Maybelle, A.P. and Sara

The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, southern gospel, pop and rock musicians, as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. Carter Family album cover. ... Carter Family album cover. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music which has its own roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Popular music is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more of the mass media. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... A roots revival (folk revival) is a trend which includes young performers popularizing the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. ...

The original group consisted of Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter. Maybelle was married to A.P.'s brother Ezra (Eck) Carter, and was also Sara's first cousin. 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's distinctive and innovative guitar playing style became a hallmark of the group. A.P. Carter (December 15, 1891 – November 7, 1960) was an American Country music musician. ... Sara Carter (July 21, 1898 – January 8, 1979) was an American Country music musician. ... Maybelle Carter (May 10, 1909 – October 23, 1978) was an American Country music musician. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ... Shape notes are a system of music notation designed to facilitate congregational singing. ...

History

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. is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Maces Springs is a small settlement on Route 614, a spur off Route 421 that cuts through Poor Valley, in Scott County, Virginia. ... Nickname: Motto: A Good Place To Live Coordinates: , Country United States State Tennessee County Sullivan Government  - Mayor Jim Messimer Area  - City  29. ... Ralph Peer (May 22, 1892 - January 19, 1960) was born Ralph Sylvester Peer in Independence, Missouri. ...

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 record became very popular.

On May 27, 1928, Peer had the group travel to Camden, New Jersey, where they recorded many of what would become their signature songs, including: is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The City of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey in the United States. ...

• "Meet me by the Moonlight Alone"
• "Keep on the Sunny Side"
• "Benjo in love with Karts Darling"
• "Little Darling, Pal of Mine"
• "Forsaken Love"
• "Anchored in Love"
• "I Ain't Goin' to Work Tomorrow"
• "Will You Miss Me when I'm Gone"
• "Wildwood Flower"
• "River of Jordan"
• "Chewing Gum"
• "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man"

The group did not receive any money for this effort and left with a contract that assured a small royalty for sales of their records and sheet music. "Wildwood Flower" in both vocal and instrumental forms has endured as a signature tune for traditional country and bluegrass artists. During a February 1929 session they recorded: Wildwood Flower is an American song, best known through performances and recordings by the Carter Family. ...

• "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes"
• "My Clinch Mountain Home"
• "Sweet Fern"
• "Grave on the Green Hillside"
• "Little Moses"
• "Don't Forget This Song"
• "Engine 143"

By the end of 1930 they had sold 300,000 records in the USA.

Realizing that he would benefit financially with each new song he collected and copyrighted, A.P. travelled around the southwestern Virginia area in search of new songs. In the early 1930s, he befriended Lesley "Esley" Riddle, a black guitar player from Kingsport, Tennessee. Esley accompanied A.P. on his song collecting trips. Riddle's blues guitar playing style influenced the Carters, especially Maybelle who learned new guitar techniques from watching him play. In June 1931, the Carters did a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee along with country legend, Jimmie Rodgers. In 1933, Maybelle met The Cook Family Singers at the Worlds Fair in Chicago and fell in love with their signature sound. [1] She asked them to tour with the Carter Family. Lesley Esley Riddle (1905-1980) was an African-American musician whose influence on the Carter Family helped to shape country music. ... Kingsport is a city located primarily in Sullivan County, and also partially in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... The Original Cook Family Singers, David J Cook and his wife Martha Second Generation Cook Family Singers, L to R Marshall Cook, Clair Cook, Marvin Cook and Betty Cook // The Cook Family Singers, originally formed in 1885, by David J Cook and his wife, Martha. ... Nickname: Motto: “Urbs in Horto” (Latin: “City in a Garden”), “I Will” Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ...

Second generation

In the winter of 1938-1939, the Carter Family travelled to Texas, where they had a twice-daily program on the border radio station XERA (later XERF) in Villa Acuña (now Ciudad Acuña), Mexico, across the border from Del Rio, Texas. In the 1939/1940 season, June Carter (middle daughter of Ezra Carter and Maybelle Carter) joined the group, which was now in San Antonio, Texas, where the programs were pre-recorded and distributed to multiple border radio stations. In Fall 1942, the Carters moved their program to WBT radio in Charlotte, North Carolina for a one-year contract. They occupied the sunrise slot with the program airing between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... XERA (1935-1939) are the call letters of a famous border-blaster radio station licensed in September 1935 to Cia Mexicana Radiofusori Fronteriza in Villa Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. ... The call letters XERF-AM are assigned to a licensed border-blaster radio station that was located in Villa Acuña (later renamed Ciudad Acuña) and that was operated under the laws of Mexico. ... Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, (originally Garza Galán, later Villa Acuña) is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at 29°19′9″ N 100°56′3″ W and a mean height above sea level of 280 metres. ... Del Rio is the county seat of Val Verde CountyGR6,United States. ... Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian and was a member of the Carter Family, and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Counties Bexar County Government  - Mayor Phil Hardberger Area  - City  412. ... Nickname: Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Government  - Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - City  280. ...

By 1943, A.P. and Sara's marriage had dissolved, she married his cousin and moved to California, and the group disbanded.

Maybelle continued to perform with her daughters Anita, June, and Helen as "Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters" into the 1960s. A.P., Sara, and their children — Joe and Janette — recorded some material in the 1950s. Maybelle and Sara briefly reunited and toured in the 1960s, during the height of folk music's popularity.(see a film clip here) Ina Anita Carter (March 31, 1933 – July 29, 1999) was the youngest daughter of Ezra (Eck) Carter and Maybelle Carter (Mother Maybelle) and said to have the best voice of all the Carter Sisters. ... Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian and was a member of the Carter Family, and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. ... Helen Myrl Carter Jones better known as Helen Carter (September 19, 1927-June 2, 1998). ... Maybelle, A.P. and Sara The Carter Family was a rural country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the...

In 1987, reunited sisters June Carter Cash, Helen and Anita Carter along with June's daughter, Carlene Carter appeared as The Carter Family, and were featured on a 1987 television episode of Austin City Limits along with Johnny Cash. ^[1] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Stevie Ray Vaughan performing on Austin City Limits. ...

Revivalist folksingers, during the 1960s, performed much of the material the Carters had collected or written. For example, on her early Vanguard albums, folk performer Joan Baez sang: "Wildwood Flower", "Little Moses", "Engine 143", "Little Darling, Pal of Mine", and "Gospel Ship". It is also interesting to note that the Carter Family Song "Wayworn Traveller" was covered by a young Bob Dylan, who wrote his own words to the melody and naming it "Paths Of Victory". This recording is featured on "Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3". After writing that song, he wrote new words to the melody, and changed the time signature to 3/4, thus creating possibly his most famous song "The Times They Are a-Changin'". This became the second time an American folk singer used a Carter Family melody to create their most well known song, Woody Guthrie did it by turning "When This World's on Fire" to "This Land Is Your Land". Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... The Times They Are a-Changin is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his 1964 album The Times They Are a-Changin. Dylans friend, Tony Glover, recalls visiting Dylans apartment in September 1963, where he saw a number of song manuscripts and poems lying on... Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (July 14, 1912–October 3, 1967) was a prolific American folk musician. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: This Land Is Your Land This Land Is Your Land is one of the United States most famous folk songs. ...

Legacy

As important to country music as the family's repertoire of songs was Maybelle's guitar playing. She developed her innovative guitar technique largely in isolation; her style is today widely known as the "Carter scratch", or "Carter style" of picking. While Maybelle did use a flatpick on occasion, her major method of guitar playing was the use of her thumb (with a thumbpick), along with one or two fingers. What her guitar style accomplished was to allow her to play melody lines (on the low strings of the guitar) while still maintaning rhythm using her fingers, brushing across the higher strings. Before the Carter family's recordings, the guitar was rarely used as a lead or solo instrument. Maybelle's interweaving of a melodic line on the bass strings with intermittent strums is now a staple of steel string guitar technique. Flatpickers such as Doc Watson, Clarence White and Norman Blake took flatpicking to a higher technical level, but all acknowledge Maybelle's playing as their inspiration. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Doc Watson Merle Watson, c. ... Clarence White (June 7, 1944 - July 14, 1973) was a guitar player for The Byrds and the Kentucky Colonels. ... Norman Blake (March 10, 1938- ) is an American folk instrumentalist, singer, and composer. ...

The Carters were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and they were given the nickname "The First Family of Country Music." In 1988, the Carter Family was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and received its Award for the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp honoring A.P., Sara, and Maybelle. In 2001, the group was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 2005, the group received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This official history of the Country Music Hall of Fame skirts the scandals well-documented by veteran Music Row historian Stacy Harris. ... The Grammy Hall of Fame Award is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and that have qualitative or historical significance. Alphabetical listing by title: List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients A-D List of Grammy Hall... See also: Grammy Grammy Hall of Fame Award List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients E-I List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients J-P List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Q-Z Alphabetical listing by title Categories: Lists of people | Grammy Hall of Fame... This article lists people who have been featured on United States postage stamps. ... Induction to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor is managed by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and the Hall itself is maintained at the International Bluegrass Music Museum. ... The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and...

Family tree

Sara Carter (July 21, 1898 – January 8, 1979) was an American Country music musician. ... A.P. Carter (December 15, 1891 - November 7, 1960) was an American Country music musician. ... Maybelle Carter (May 10, 1909 – October 23, 1978) was an American Country music musician. ... Helen Myrl Carter Jones better known as Helen Carter (September 19, 1927-June 2, 1998). ... Ina Anita Carter (March 31, 1933 – July 29, 1999) was the youngest daughter of Ezra (Eck) Carter and Maybelle Carter (Mother Maybelle) and said to have the best voice of all the Carter Sisters. ... Vivian Liberto (April 23, 1934 – May 24, 2005) met Johnny Cash in 1950 at a roller skating rink in San Antonio, Texas three weeks before the Air Force deployed him to Germany. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ... Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian and was a member of the Carter Family, and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. ... Note: This article is about a musician. ... Rosanne Cash from the back cover of Rhythm & Romance (1985). ... John Carter Cash (born 3 March 1970) is an American Country-singer, songwriter and producer. ... June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter) (June 23, 1929 - May 15, 2003), middle daughter of Ezra (Eck) Carter and Maybelle Carter (Mother Maybelle), was a singer, songwriter, a member of the first country music recording stars, the Carter Family, and married to legendary singer Johnny Cash. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bowi EP sleeve (1977). ... Joseph Breen (born July 5, 1958) is an American soap opera actor. ...

External links

• Country Music's First Family
• Songs of the Carter Family
• Rhythmic Asymmetry in the Music of the Carter family
• The Carter Family
• The Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc.
• Complete song texts of the original Carter Family 1927-1941
• Native Ground Music article
• Carter Family Fold, Hiltons, Virginia
• CD Review The Carter Family
• The Guitar Style of Maybelle Carter
• The Carter Family at Rolling Stone

References

• Among my klediments, June Carter Cash, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1979. ISBN 0-310-38170-3
• In the Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music, Nicholas Dawidoff, Vintage Books, 1998. ISBN 0-375-70082-X
• Will you miss me when I'm gone? : the Carter Family and their legacy in American music, Mark Zwonitzer with Charles Hirshberg, New York, Simon & Schuster, 2002