The Carter Family

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The Carter Family
General information
Genre (s) Old-time music , country music
founding 1927
resolution 1943
Founding members
Guitar , vocals
 A. P. Carter
Vocals, guitar
 "Mother" Maybelle Carter
Vocals, guitar, autoharp
Sara Carter

The Carter Family was an American country group that was among the earliest stars of commercial country music. With their version of the ancient Irish and English ballads, as cultivated in the remote regions of the American Appalachian Mountains , they made a decisive contribution to the development of modern American popular music in the 20th century.

Original Carter Family

Wildwood Flower, 1928

The first line of the Carter Family consisted of AP Carter (born December 15, 1891 as Alvin Pleasant Carter; † November 7, 1960), "Mother" Maybelle Carter (born May 10, 1909 as Maybelle Addington; † October 23, 1978) and Sara Carter (born July 21, 1898 as Sara Dougherty, † January 8, 1979). Sara was the wife of A.P., and Maybelle was married to his brother Ezra Carter. Maybelle and Sara were cousins.

On August 1, 1927, the three members of the Carter Family appeared in talent scout Ralph Peer's mobile recording studio in Bristol, Tennessee . Almost at the same time, Jimmie Rodgers , who a little later became the first big star of oldtime and hillbilly music, also played there. After the first recording session, a record deal was signed with Victor Records . The Carter Family became the first nationally known country music singing group. Until then, instrumental interpreters, the typical Fiddlers, were predominant. Numerous songs were recorded in the following years, the most famous being Wildwood Flower . Above all, it was A. P Carter who was constantly looking for traditional songs from the rural population, in order to then immortalize them on record, sometimes with his own authorship. In the course of time, around 300 songs were collected.

As a result of the Great Depression of 1929, the Carters had to survive a long financial lean period despite their now high level of awareness. From the mid-thirties the daughters were also on stage. In 1939 A. P. and Sara separated. The Carter Family got together for recording sessions until 1943. Then Sara left the group. The first era of the Carter Family was over.

AP and Sara Carter 1952

AP reunited with Sara in 1952 and formed the Carter Family again with their daughter Janette. A number of records were recorded, but the earlier successes could not even be repeated. In 1956 the Carter Family dissolved again. A. P. died four years later.

Maybelle Carter and Daughters

Maybelle Carter, meanwhile, continued with her daughters June , Anita and Helen Carter under the name The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters, respectively. After A. P's death, the old name was used again: The Carter Family. The members of the Carter Family also appeared as accompanist for Johnny Cash , whom June Carter married in March 1968.

Some guitarists claim to have been influenced by Maybelle Carter's idiosyncratic style of guitar playing. The members of the Carter Family were also known for their virtuoso playing of the autoharp . The daughters continued to make music after mother Maybelle's death in 1978, and June's daughter Carlene Carter also took part in the performances at times .

In 1970 the Original Carter Family was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame , receiving the highest honor in country music. Mother Maybelle Carter set a high point on the album of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken (1972), the first joint project between old established country stars and a young country band that emerged from the hippie tradition.

The Carter Family is now considered one of the most influential formations in country music. Many subsequent generations of musicians were influenced by them. She was also inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall Music of Honor in 2001 due to her influence on bluegrass .

Discography (selection)

  • 1997 - Give Me Roses While I Live - Their Complete Recordings Vol. 6
  • 1996 - Sunshine in the Shadow - Their Complete Victor Recordings 1931-1932
  • 1995 - Worried Man Blues - Their Complete Recordings Vol. 4
  • 1995 - When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland - Their Complete Recordings Vol. 3
  • 1993 - My Clinch Mountain Home - Their Complete Victor Recordings 1928-1929
  • 1993 - Anchored in Love - Their Complete Victor Recordings 1927

literature

  • Mark Zwonitzer with Charles Hirshberg: Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music. Simon & Schuster, New York 2004, ISBN 978-0743243827

Web links

Commons : Carter Family  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files