Lyrics | Artists | Benny Carter

Benny Carter

Not only a great, influential figure during the era of the big bands, saxophonist Benny Carter worked in nine different decades and was a groundbreaking arranger, band leader and performer as jazz moved from swing to be-bop to modern styles. Born in New York City, his mother gave him piano lessons as a child and he largely taught himself the saxophone. By the age of 15 he was playing in Harlem night clubs and learning his trade as a sideman in local bands. Making his first recordings in 1928 as part of the Charlie Johnson Orchestra, he started arranging for the Fletcher Hend...