The Carter Family

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The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. Their music had a profound impact on later bluegrass, country, pop and rock musicians, as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s.

The original group consisted of Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter (A.P.; 1891-1960), his wife, Sara Dougherty Carter (autoharp and guitar; 1898-1979), and Maybelle Addington Carter (guitar; 1909-1978). Maybelle Carter (later popularly known as Mother Maybelle Carter) was married to A.P.’s brother Ezra (Eck) Carter. All three were born and raised in southwestern Virginia where they were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music and shape note singing. Maybelle Carter’s distinctive and innovative guitar playing style quickly became a hallmark of the group.

The Carters got their start on July 31, 1927 when A.P. convinced Sara and Maybelle (pregnant at the time) to make the journey from Maces Springs, Virginia to Bristol, Tennessee to audition for record producer Ralph Peer who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded.

In the Fall of 1927 the Victor recording company released a double-sided 78 rpm record of the group performing “Wandering Boy” and “Poor Orphan Child”. In 1928 another record was released with “The Storms Are on the Ocean” and “Single Girl, Married Girl”. This one proved very popular.
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  • DeadKinks

    There's The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt. Evert note on popular music in the western world in the past 80 years has their mark.

    11 days ago
  • DeadKinks

    There's The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt. Evert note on popular music in the western world in the past 80 years has their mark.

    11 days ago
  • anothlastfmuser

    Read this report: http://www.ripoffreport.com/questionable-activities/last-fm-ltd/last-fm-ltd-cbs-entertainment-51079.htm And comment your opinions. Thanks.

    11 days ago
  • scarebear

    Hmm, no mention of June Carter-Cash. So, just an FYI, Maybelle Carter/Mother Maybelle Carter was June Carter-Cash's mother. The one married to Johnny Cash.

    last month
  • ihavesoldout

    old weird america

    last month
  • Eifersucht__

    wow. [2]

    February 2012
  • Davadarho

    Amazing music !

    January 2012
  • PhilAbernethy

    The carter's were not simply an act, they were the real deal. When they sang of Virginian wildwood, the cattle lowing in the lane, faith in the glory of the world to come or the swiftest locomotive on the line, they were singing about their own story and when they sang of orphaned children, worried men, tangled love and bruised hearts, that was their story too.

    December 2011
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