About the artist
Carmen Twillie, born April 8, 1950, is an American studio vocalist and actress best known for her powerful lead performance on «Circle of Life», the Elton John and Tim Rice song that opens Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King. Her soaring vocal, paired with Lebo M’s Zulu chanting, became one of the most recognizable openings in film-musical history and introduced global audiences to a sound blending Western pop with African choral influences.
Beyond that signature role, Twillie has built a long career as an in-demand session and background singer, lending her voice to recordings by major artists including Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. She also contributed additional vocals to Pink Floyd’s 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and worked in animation and film, providing the singing voice of Stormella in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie and performing vocals for the animated feature Cats Don’t Dance.
Twillie’s career illustrates the vital, often uncredited role studio vocalists play in shaping the sound of major film scores and pop records. Her association with Tommy Morgan’s choir and her guest-soloist appearances further reflect her standing within the Los Angeles session-singing community, where her versatility across pop, gospel-inflected, and orchestral vocal styles has made her a sought-after collaborator for decades.