Carter Family
The Carter Family was an American country music vocal group who were next to Jimmie Rodgers, the first stars of the commercial country music. With their version of the ancient Irish and English ballads, as it has been maintained in the remote regions of the U.S. mountain chain of the Appalachian Mountains, they have the development of modern American popular music of the 20th century had a decisive influence.
Original Carter Family
The first cast of the Carter Family consisted of AP Carter (* December 15, 1891 as Alvin Pleasant Carter; † 7, 1960), "Mother" Maybelle Carter ( born May 10, 1909, Maybelle Addington, † 23 October 1978) and Sara Carter ( born July 21, 1898 Sara Dougherty, † January 8, 1979 ). Sara was the wife of A. P. and Maybelle was married to his brother, Ezra Carter.
On 1 August 1927, the three members of the Carter Family was published in mobile recording studio talent scout Ralph Peer in Bristol, Tennessee. Almost simultaneously played there also Jimmie Rodgers before, which should be a little later the first major star of the old-time or hillbilly music. With the Victor label, a record deal was concluded after the first recording session. The Carter Family thus became the first nationally known singing group of country music. The dominant until then instrumental oriented performers, the typical Fiddler. In the following years, numerous songs have been recorded, the most famous is Wildwood Flower. It was mainly AP Carter, who constantly sought for traditional songs of the rural population to it then to perpetuate partly under its own authorship, on record. Over time, as about 300 songs were collected.
As a result of the global economic crisis of 1929, the Carters had, despite their now widely known that to survive a prolonged financial losing streak. From the mid- thirties and the daughters were on stage. 1939 parted A. P. and Sara. The Carter Family came but until 1943 recording sessions together. Then Sara left the group. The first section of the Carter Family era was ended.
A. P. and Sara Carter 1952
AP found in 1952 again with Sara together and formed together with daughter Jeanette again the Carter Family. A number of plates were recorded, but the early success could not be repeated approximately. In 1956, the Carter Family disbanded again. Four years later died A. P.
Maybelle Carter and daughters
Maybelle Carter, meanwhile, made with her daughters June Carter, Anita Carter and Helen Carter as The Carter Sisters Mother Maybelle & the Carter or Sisters on. After the death of APs you again used the old name: The Carter Family. The members of the Carter Family came as accompanying vocalists for Johnny Cash, June Carter to marry in March 1968.
Some guitarists say that they have been influenced by Maybelle Carter's idiosyncratic style of guitar playing. The members of the Carter Family were well known for their virtuosic playing the autoharp. The daughters made after the death of Mother Maybelle in 1978 as Music and temporarily also acted Junes daughter Carlene Carter at the shows with.
In 1970, the original Carter Family was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and thus received the highest award of the country music. A highlight of Mother Maybelle Carter sat 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 emerged from the hippie tradition young country band.
The Carter Family is considered one of the most influential formations of country music. Many subsequent generations of musicians have been influenced by it. It was also added to the Bluegrass in the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 2001 because of their influence.