Carter Family, The

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THE CARTER FAMILY

  • From Bristol, Tennessee.
  • Original group: A.P. (Alvin Pleasant), Sara and Maybelle Carter.
  • Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. From the inscription: “A.P. Carter, his wife, Sara, and his sister-in-law Maybelle, played in one of the first commercial country recording sessions at Bristol, Tennesee … Their songs became country standards, and some of A.P.’s original compositions are among the all-time greats … the epitome of country greatness and originators of a much copied style.”
  • Original group recorded and performed from 1927 to 1942, when A.P. and Sara divorced.
  • Wrote and recorded hundreds of country and bluegrass standards: Jimmy Brown the Newsboy, The Wildwood Flower, Keep on the Sunnyside, etc.
  • After 1942, Maybelle continued to perform as the Carter Family with daughters Helen, June and Anita. In 1950, the group became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry.
  • June Carter had several hit records as a solo artist. Married Johnny Cash.
  • Performed as regulars on the Johnny Cash show until Mother Maybelle’s death in 1978.
  • Maybelle (Mother Maybelle) was famous for her autoharp playing, but rose to fame as a guitarist. She was among the first to play with finger-picks and to play guitar solos. Her style is still copied by many guitarists today.
  • 2001, The Carter Family was inducted into the IBMA’s Hall of Honor by Bill Clifton.

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