• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Lifenotes: Guitarist Fred Carter Jr.

July 19, 2010/by Sarah Skates

Fred Carter Jr. playing at the Station Inn in 1983. Photo by Alan Mayor

Noted musician Fred Carter Jr. passed away on July 17th from stroke-related causes at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The Louisiana native was born in 1933 and began his career as a professional musician in the 1950s, playing guitar for rock ‘n’ rollers like Roy Orbison. By the early ‘60s Carter had settled into the Nashville scene, where he would be a first-call player for the next two decades.

Carter’s influence branched outside of Music City, spreading into the folk world with work on Simon and Garfunkel classics like The Boxer. The multi-instrumentalist can be heard playing bass on Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” as well as lead guitar with Joan Baez, Neil Young, and The Band. His career also included work with Muddy Waters, Waylon Jennings, Dottie Rambo, and many more.

Carter was instrumental in bringing out of town folkies to Nashville to record. He produced Levon Helm’s American Son album on MCA Records, and Bobby Bridger’s Heal in the Wisdom. As a songwriter, Carter has had songs recorded by acts as diverse as Dean Martin and Chet Atkins. He is said to have had a hand in Tanya Tucker and Dolly Parton’s first record deals.

Carter is survived by A loving husband and father, Carter is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anna; his sons, Ronnie and Jeff; his daughter, recording artist Deana Carter; and his five grandchildren. Visitation will be at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home (Thompson Lane) on Tuesday, July 20 from noon until 2:30 p.m., with the funeral immediately following.

Fred Carter and daughter Deana Carter, pictured in May 1998. Photo by Alan Mayor

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has been a writer and editor in the music business since 2004. She is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Sarah Skates
Latest posts by Sarah Skates (see all)
  • Parker McCollum Sells Out Ascend Amphitheater, Celebrates Double Platinum Single - May 23, 2022
  • CMA Presents Triple Play Awards, Honors Bob DiPiero - May 13, 2022
  • Breakout Artist, Nashville Native Jelly Roll To Headline Bridgestone Arena - May 13, 2022
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png 0 0 Sarah Skates https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Sarah Skates2010-07-19 09:22:412010-07-19 09:22:41Lifenotes: Guitarist Fred Carter Jr.
You might also like
Little Jimmy Recovering
Noted Arranger Sheldon Kurland Passes
Lifenotes: Margaret Ann Rich
Lifenotes: BMI Board Member Don Thurston
Service Scheduled For Barry Beckett
Veteran Nashville Broadcaster Norm Ray Passes
0 replies
  1. Boone Kenyon
    Boone Kenyon says:
    July 20, 2010 at 12:45 am

    Fred was not only a great guitarist but a very good teacher. He played with my band in Forrest City, Ark in early 1961 and taught me how to play “Misty”. He and I went on to Marianna and recorded some of his songs at Conway Twitty’s studio. I’ll miss him.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Bobbe Seymour
    Bobbe Seymour says:
    July 21, 2010 at 8:57 am

    Having done many sessions with Fred in the seventies and becoming great friends, I just have to say how much this great player and person has meant to me over the past 40 years.
    A brilliant and wonderful person in all respects.
    Bobbe Seymour (steel guitar)

    Log in to Reply
  3. online website design
    online website design says:
    July 23, 2010 at 7:08 am

    I have a friends music band. Usually we like to follow and learn to follow to Fred Carter JR couple of trends we played as well. He is the awesome only.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • New IRS Rule Affects Concert Ticket Resellers September 29, 2023
  • Neil Medley Shares His Stories On Debut Project, ‘South End Kid’ September 29, 2023
  • Worldwide Stages Announces Investment Opportunity In Its Production Campus September 29, 2023
  • In Pictures: Coastal Country Jam Closes Summer With Star-Studded Lineup September 29, 2023
  • First-Ever ‘People’s Choice Country Awards’ Airs Live From Nashville [Recap] September 29, 2023
  • Fifth Annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Raises $400K For U.S. Military Vets September 29, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Adds Multiple Nights In Several Markets For 2024 Tour September 29, 2023
  • Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album ‘My Stupid Life’ For January September 29, 2023
  • Dylan Scott Earns MusicRow No. 1 With ‘Can’t Have Mine’ September 29, 2023
  • Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle Among Winners At 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards September 29, 2023
  • 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards Winners – Complete List September 29, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: The Late Jimmy Buffett ‘Encourages Optimism & Hope’ September 28, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Wasserman Music, Merle Travis, Equal Access, More September 28, 2023
  • Shania Twain’s Multi-Platinum ‘Greatest Hits’ Makes Vinyl Debut In November September 28, 2023
  • IBMA Honors 2023 Industry Awards Recipients September 28, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top