Notable artists, songwriters and producers with whom Carwell has collaborated as vocalist or vocals arranger include Prince, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Lionel Richie, The Brecker Brothers, George Duke, Boney James, Bobby Brown, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Chanté Moore, David Foster, Shanice, Shola Ama, Jeff Golub, Jeff Lorber, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Winter, Rebbie Jackson, Ronan Keating, Toni Braxton, LeAnn Rimes, Rollins Band, Hoku, Vitamin C, Zac Harmon, Oleta Adams, Mya, Kirk Whalum, Tony Toni Toné, CeCe Winans, Whitney Houston, Diane Warren, The Time, and Rufus.
[1][9] After she was spotted singing at the Elks Club by bass guitarist André Cymone,[7] Prince attended one of her performances, and she became a protégée of his; he produced her first demo tape,[10] but she resisted his suggestion that she used the name "Susie Stone",[7][11][12][13] and recordings Prince had been working on with her for a projected 1978 album ("I'm Saving It Up", "Make It Through the Storm", "Since We've Been Together" and "Wouldn't You Love To Love Me?")
[1] Her second album, Blue Velvet (1988), also released using the name Sue Ann, was produced by Jesse Johnson;[16] as noted by reviewer Justin Kantor, the album "offers generous portions of a tasty entree ... in gems like the down 'n dirty 'Fiction'; the melodic, midtempo 'Pleasure' ; and the serene, rhythmic ballad 'I'll Give You Love.'
A true vocal chameleon, Sue Ann plays the sassy, no-holds-barred street diva on 'Fiction,' while she's sultry and jazzy on the Robert Brookins-produced 'Pleasure,' and straightforward and sensitive on 'I'll Give You Love.
'[17] Reviewing Carwell's 1992 album, Painkiller (for which her full name was used), AllMusic said that it "effectively showcases her as a sassy soul diva", describing it as "an impressive offering".