Although not raised in a church-going family, gospel leader Kurt Carr took it upon himself to start attending services at age 13 and soon became active in his church's musical programs. Finding inspiration in albums by gospel greats Walter Hawkins, James Cleveland, and Andrae Crouch, Carr attended the University of Connecticut in his hometown of Hartford, graduating with a degree in fine arts and a newfound appreciation of classical music. He was mentored by the classically trained gospel legend Richard Smallwood