By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

Bennett Lester "Benny" Carter, aged 95, died this morning in Los Angeles.
He was physically weak, but lucid until the end.

Mr. Carter was Music Director of McKinney's Cotton Pickers in 1931. Through his arranging talent, he helped define big band jazz during the 1920s.
Benny was, quite simply, a virtuoso. Along with Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker, Carter was one of the most important alto saxophonists in jazz during its 'classic' period (1920 - 1950). He also mastered trumpet and clarinet and recorded fine solos on tenor sax, trombone and piano. He was said to be a good drummer too!
His solos were marvellous, with a full round sound, a wealth of ideas, and plenty rhythm.
His music was a joy to play, and musicians both young and old sought to work in his bands. During the 1940s Miles Davis, Max Roach, Dexter Gordon and J.J. Johnson worked with Benny.
Carter arranged for Basie, Ray Charles (Hit The Road Jack) and countless others.

Benny was a no-nonsense kind of guy with a great sense of humor. He was adept at deflecting any comments about his greatness; he was a truly humble man, and like all of the Masters he made it look so easy.
Benny Carter was a griot, he always told a story on his instrument.

By dvdmike (68.72.165.239) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 12:40 am:

Miles Davis said that Benny Carter was the kind of cat that didn't take no sh-- and was one of the toughest musicians he ever knew. By the way, Benny arranged "Busted" for Ray Charles, Ray arranged "Hit The Road, Jack" himself.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.111) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 01:54 am:

A sad loss indeed
many thanks for letting us know Jim
Benny Carter R.I.P.

mel.

By JaSa (80.182.203.54) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 07:53 am:

Benny,R.I.P

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 09:24 am:

Thanks for the correction, dvdmike. Charles won a grammy for "Busted", and Carter received a certificate from NARAS for 'best background arrangement'.

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.162.3) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 09:58 am:

R.I.P Benny
WELDON

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.162.3) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:15 am:

R.I.P Benny
WELDON

By Vonnie (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 09:49 pm:

I was so sorry to hear iof his passing another great jazz meister.

Vonnie

By StingBeeLee (68.43.130.52) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:29 pm:

I can remember seeing Benny Carter on David Sanborn's show (I forget the title of the show). Anyway, David and Benny came out to play a tune together. I know Benny was in his 80's. Benny started to play and Sanborn looked at him as if to say "I'll be d****d". Wow, did Benny play!!! Sanborn looked around and it was darn near a battle; he had better PLAY or else be blown off the stage and he did not want to be embarrased on his own TV show. Needless to say, Sanborn held his own, but Benny made the audience gasp from his playing.

By Soul Sister & Jimmy Scott (65.43.167.42) on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

We were in Japan when we heard the sads news about Benny, this saddened Jimmy deeply to lose a dear old friend. We got this news our first day in Japan at the "gig" and I know it affected Jimmy's performance that night. Benny wrote a song for Jimmy to record a while back, the record producers in the past didn't chose it for the CDs, Jimmy had been talking about getting it recorded on the next date as a requirement for him to do a CD in the contract, he wanted badly to get this song recorded before it was too late so Benny could hear it finally so the news came as a double shock and disapointment to us.

Benny, you were & are among the cream of the crop, God Bless, we know your composing some great tunes in soul jazz heaven. Amen.

By dvdmike (68.72.103.248) on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 10:08 pm:

Benny also arranged "I'm A Woman" for Peggy Lee

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 03:17 pm:

StingBeeLee:
David Sanborn's TV series was called Night Music and it aired on the NBC-TV affiliates across the country.

I remember seeing Sanborn & Carter playing on the show and got a kick out of seeing Master Carter kicking David in the pants musically.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (64.63.221.130) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 05:32 pm:

RIP
Stephanie PS I didnt know about this!!!