As a child, Malcolm recalls listening from the bedroom to conversations and laughter from guests, including celebrated artists Paul Robeson (baritone), Marian Anderson (contralto), Hazel Scott–Powell (wife of Adam Clayton Powell Jr., of Abyssinia Baptist Church of Harlem) as they came to late dinners after recitals at a local theatre.

He also recognized Malcolm's natural gift for creating and arranging music and supported his son's desire to pursue an education in the arts.

Malcolm holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Music from the Union Institute & University located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

From the late 1950s Carlos Malcolm worked professionally as a musician in conjunction with his "other job" as a photo journalist with the West Indian Review magazine in Kingston.

[5][6] Prior to forming his own band, Carlos Malcolm's music company, Carmal, created musical commercial jingles for several American and English brand products publicized by advertising agencies in Kingston: Vick's VapoRub, Shell Oil, Texaco Oil, Tek Toothbrushes, Milo Cup of Health, Berger Paints, Maxwell House Coffee and many more.

In 1998 Carlos collaborated with US violinist and producer Robert Michael Way, aka "Zimbobway", on a projected pair of albums, The Return of Skalypso and No Forget The Bamboo Man.

Musicians in the King Kingston Orchestra included Jamaican music legends Lloyd Wilkes (lead vocals) from The Sheiks, Pluto Shervington (bass/vocals), Trevor Lopez (guitar/vocals), Larry MacDonald (percussion), Fred Campbell (drums), and Cedric "Im" Brooks (tenor saxophone) all who were the original members and players with Carlos Malcolm and the Afro-Jamaican Rhythms.

There he created alternate educational learning programs, taught in middle schools and mentored "at-risk" teenagers in community centers with his program "Bak2bay6–with a Musical Twist," which teaches young students and adults the elements of English, Math, Music and Critical Thinking, using "rap" and original songs to deliver subject matters.

While in Australia, at the invitation of Australian National Radio Carlos also delivered a lecture/demonstration on the "History of Reggae Music" at the Prince Albert Ballroom in Melbourne.

Since relocating to Florida in the mid-2000s, Malcolm continues to write and animate learning modules for his alternate education programs using original songs, and has more than 100 compositions and arrangements featured on amazon.com, iTunes and other outlets.

He also completed his book, Carlos Malcolm- A Personal History of Post-war Jamaican Music: New Orleans Jazz, Blues to Reggae exclusively sold on Amazon.com.