Fred Carter, Jr.

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Fred Carter, Jr. is a renowned guitarist, singer and composer, who became one of the most respected and influential guitarists of his generation. Beginning his professional career in the 1950s, the record charts are replete with his fingerprints across a number of genres. Though based in Nashville and serving as one its premier session guitarists, his influence can be heard on recordings as diverse as Muddy Waters, The Band, Waylon Jennings, Dottie Rambo, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Raised in the heart of Northern Louisiana, he grew up with the heavy musical influences of jazz, country & western, hymns, and blues. These elements fused to form rock and roll in the 1950s and Fred was a significant part of this development. He spent two years with Roy Orbison during his heyday in the late '50s. He then worked with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, and was principal guitarist for Dale Hawkins of "Suzie Q" fame.

Fred settled into the Nashville session scene in the early 1960s, becoming one of its most prominent players for the next two decades. His influence was not confined to Nashville however and he was a fixture in the folk music genre of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Fred can be heard on a multitude of Simon and Garfunkel classics - most notably "The Boxer" in which he played four guitars, including the memorable finger-picking intro and conclusion. He can also be heard playing bass on Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" as well as principal guitar with Joan Baez, Neil Young, The Band and others. Fred was instrumental in bringing these acts to Nashville to record, helping Nashville's music landscape expand beyond its traditional boundaries. This influence can be heard on songs such as "The Boxer" which includes harmonica legend Charlie McCoy who Fred brought in to be part of the record. Other signature pieces for Fred include I've Alway's Been Crazy and Whistlers and Jugglars by Waylon Jennings.

Interestingly, Fred did not make the guitar his principal instrument until he was in his early twenties, having been a lifelong fiddle and mandolin player. Also of note, it has been widely reported that Fred was Robbie Robertson's guitar teacher in the early days of touring with Ronnie Hawkins.

Fred's daughter is Deana Carter, a CMA award winning artist in her own right.