Career Betty Carter

betty carter @ great american music hall, san francisco, california, 1979.

even @ young age, carter able bring new vocal style jazz. breathiness of voice characteristic seldom heard before appearance on music scene. known passion scat singing , strong belief throwaway attitude jazz musicians approached inappropriate , wasteful due spontaneity , basic inventiveness, seldom seen elsewhere.

detroit, carter grew up, hotbed of jazz growth. after signing talent agent after win @ amateur night, carter had opportunities perform famous jazz artists such dizzy gillespie, visited detroit extensive amount of time. gillespie considered responsible strong passion scatting. in earlier recordings, apparent scatting had similarities qualities of gillespie s.

at time of gillespie s visit, charlie parker receiving treatment in psychiatric hospital, delaying encounter him. however, carter received opportunity perform parker, band consisting of tommy potter, max roach, , miles davis. after receiving praise both gillespie , parker vocal prowess, carter felt strong burst in confidence , knew make in business perseverance.

carter right. in 1948, carter asked lionel hampton join band. carter had big break. working hampton s group gave chance band mates artists such charles mingus , wes montgomery ernest harold benny bailey, had vacated gillespie s band , albert thornton al grey later go on join gillespie s band. hampton had ear talent , love bebop. carter had deep love bebop talent it. hampton s wife gladys gave nickname betty bebop , nickname reportedly detested. despite ear , charming personality, carter fiercely independent , had tendency attempt resist hampton s direction, while hampton had temper , quick anger. hampton expected lot players , did not want them forget band s leader. openly hated swing style, refused sing in swinging way, , far outspoken tastes. carter honed scat singing ability while on tour, not received hampton did not enjoy penchant improvisation. on course of 2 , half years, hampton fired carter total of 7 times.

being part of hampton s band provided few things kid (a nickname bestowed upon carter stuck rest of life): connections, , new approach music, making future musical attitudes came carter bore mark of hampton s guidance. because of hampton s hiring of carter, goes down in history 1 of last big band era jazz singers in history. however, 1951, carter left band. after short recuperation home, carter in new york, working on city better part of 1950s, participating in extensive tour of south, playing camp shows . work made little no money, carter believed necessary in order develop artist, , way pay dues .

very after carter s arrival in new york city, given opportunity record king pleasure , ray bryant trio, becoming more recognizable , known , subsequently being granted chance sing @ apollo theatre. theatre notorious giving up-and-coming artists final shove becoming household names. carter propelled notoriety, recording epic label 1955 , well-known artist late 1950s. first solo lp, out there, released on peacock label in 1958.

miles davis can credited carter s bump in popularity, person recommended ray charles take carter under wing. carter began touring charles in 1960, making recording of duets him in 1961, including r&b-chart-topping baby, s cold outside, brought measure of popular recognition. in 1963 toured in japan sonny rollins. recorded various labels during period, including abc-paramount, atco , united artists, satisfied resulting product. after 3 years of touring charles , total of 2 recordings together, carter took hiatus recording marry. , husband had 2 children. however, continued performing, not wanting dependent upon husband financial support.

the 1960s became increasingly difficult time carter began slip in fame, refusing sing contemporary pop music, , youth fading. carter forty years old, @ time not conducive career in public eye. rock , roll, pop, steadily becoming more popular , provided cash flow labels , recording companies. carter had work extremely hard continue book gigs because of jazz decline. marriage beginning crumble. 1971, carter single , performing live small group consisting of merely piano, drums, , bass. betty carter trio 1 of few jazz groups continue book gigs in late 1960s , 1970s.

carter created own record label, bet-car records, in 1969, sole recording source of carter s music next eighteen years:

....in fact, think first independent label out there in 69. people thought crazy when did it. how gonna distribution? mean, how gonna take care of business , yourself? don t need else? said, listen. nobody comin way , wanted records out there, found out myself. so, s did. s best thing ever happened me. know. re talking 69!

some of famous recordings issued on bet-car, including double album audience betty carter (1980). in 1980 subject of documentary film michelle parkerson, then, s betty carter. carter s approach music did not concern solely method of recording , distribution, choice in venues. carter began performing @ colleges , universities, starting in 1972 @ goddard college in vermont. carter excited @ opportunity, since mid-1960s carter had been wanting visit schools , provide sort of education students. began lecturing along musical performances, informing students of history of jazz , roots.

by 1975, carter s life , work prospects began improve, , carter beginning able pick own jobs once again, touring in europe, south america, , united states. in 1976, carter guest live performer on saturday night live′s first season on air, , performer @ newport jazz festival in 1977 , 1978, carving out permanent place herself in music business in world of jazz.

in 1977, carter reached new high in fame herself, being lauded critics, media, , fans talent, , teaching master class past mentor, dizzy gillespie, @ harvard. in last decade of life, carter began receive wider acclaim , recognition. in 1987 signed verve records, reissued of bet-car albums on cd first time , made them available wider audiences. in 1988 won grammy album got! , sang in guest appearance on cosby show (episode how carnegie hall? ). in 1994 performed @ white house , headliner @ verve s 50th anniversary celebration in carnegie hall. subject of 1994 short film dick fontaine, betty carter: new time.

in 1997 awarded national medal of arts president bill clinton. award 1 of thousands, carter considered medal important received in lifetime.