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Paragraph 1: Benny Carter's hard work soon brought success. By the time he was twenty, he was directing his own orchestra, and was frequently featured at the popular Savoy Ballroom. Ballroom patrons in the 1930s wanted to swing to dance music, so jazz orchestras played dances called the Boogie, Shag, Jitterbug and Lindy-Hop. Benny Carter plays the saxophone solo for this novelty 1930s dance called the Push-Out.
Paragraph 2: In the 1930s swing music was also popular throughout Europe. Benny Carter was invited to perform in many European countries, where he was often greeted at train stations by swarms of excited fans. Carter was a pioneer in leading European orchestras that combined the talents of both black and white musicians. Listen as Carter swings with his European friends in this Parisian recording of Honeysuckle Rose.
Paragraph 3: As World War II raged through Europe during the 1940s, Benny Carter, having safely returned to the United States, did his part to help the U.S. war effort. From 1942-1946 Carter and his band played at military camps and hospitals across the country. Carter's wartime ditty, Cow Cow Boogie, cheered soldiers at home and abroad.
Paragraph 4: In 1943, Carter, drawn by opportunities to create music for Hollywood studios, left New York and moved to Los Angeles. Carter was a leader in securing equal opportunity and equal pay for black and white musicians in the Hollywood entertainment business. Before Carter, Holly wood studios often restricted black artists to only playing instruments for recording film soundtracks. Carter was hired not only to perform, but to also write the music for dozens of films and television programs, and to direct the studio recording orchestras. His upscale LA address was immortalized in his song Hollyridge Drive. Carter included the breezy sounds of the vibraphone in this musical depiction of his California home.
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Now more than 90 years old, Benny Carter continues to compose music and perform with musicians around the world. He still visits Japan nearly every year, where he is received like royalty! Carter composed this humorous reworking of Chopsticks as part of a musical tribute to Japan titled Tales of the Rising Sun.
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