Goree Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goree Carter
Background information
Birth name	Goree Chester Carter or Christer Carter
Also known as	Little T-Bone Rocky Thompson Gory Carter
Born	(1930-12-31)December 31, 1930 Houston, Texas, United States
Died	December 29, 1990(1990-12-29) (aged 59) Houston, Texas, United States
Genres	Blues electric blues jump blues Texas blues rock and roll boogie-woogie R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter soldier
Instruments	Vocals guitar electric guitar drums
Years active	1940s–1954
Labels	Freedom Records
Associated acts	The Hepcats Goree Carter and His Hepcats

Goree Chester Carter (born December 31, 1930 – died December 29, 1990), known as Goree Carter, was an American singer, guitarist, drummer, and songwriter. He was also a soldier. He used other names like Little T-Bone and Rocky Thompson. Goree Carter made music in different blues styles, including electric blues and jump blues. He also played rock and roll.

He is most famous for his 1949 song, "Rock Awhile." Many people say this song might be the first rock and roll record. It had a special loud and rough electric guitar sound. This sound was very similar to what Chuck Berry would play years later. Carter recorded "Rock Awhile" when he was just 18 years old. Finding this song again after his death has made him known as an important person in the early days of rock and roll. He also served as a soldier in the Korean War.

Biography

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Goree Carter was born in Houston, Texas. He grew up in an area called the Fifth Ward. He started playing blues music when he was 12 years old. He learned to play on a cousin's guitar.

There weren't many guitar players in his neighborhood back then. So, he taught himself how to play. He would listen to his favorite songs on a record player. Then, he would try to play the notes on his guitar, string by string. He learned some chords by listening. Later, he learned more from a chord book. When he was a teenager, he worked at a local rice mill. He had a Gibson guitar and started leading his own bands.

Goree Carter and His Hepcats Band

In 1949, Goree Carter and his jump blues band, The Hepcats, signed with Freedom Records. This was a local record label in Houston. They recorded the label's first song, "Sweet Ole Woman Blues." The band included Carter on guitar, two saxophones, a trumpet, piano, bass, and drums.

Carter's electric guitar style was inspired by Aaron "T-Bone" Walker. But Carter's sound was louder and rougher. This sound was a lot like the rock and roll music that would become popular a few years later. His way of playing single notes and two-string "blue note" chords was similar to what Chuck Berry would do later. Some people think Carter's music might have even influenced Chuck Berry.

The Song "Rock Awhile"

When he was 18, Goree Carter recorded his most famous song, "Rock Awhile," in April 1949. Many music experts say this song is a strong choice for being the "first rock and roll record." They think it's even a better choice than "Rocket 88" (1951) by Ike Turner. The beginning of "Rock Awhile" sounds a lot like the intros in several Chuck Berry songs from 1955 and later.

Music historian Robert Palmer believes "Rock Awhile" is a better fit for the "first rock and roll record" title. He points out that it was recorded two years earlier than "Rocket 88." Also, Carter's guitar playing sounds very much like Chuck Berry's later style. Carter used a loud amplifier and played with boogie rhythms. The song's title and words also fit the rock and roll style. Other experts, like Roger Wood and John Nova Lomax, also agree that "Rock Awhile" was the first rock and roll record. Carter wrote and recorded the song in Houston. Even though it was groundbreaking, "Rock Awhile" didn't become a huge hit like later rock and roll songs. Still, he had some success and toured for a while.

Military Service and Later Years

In 1950, when he was 19, Goree Carter joined the military. He served as a private first class infantry soldier in the Korean War for over a year. After returning to Houston around 1951, his music career started to slow down.

Carter recorded for several record labels in the early 1950s. These included Imperial, Coral, and Modern. However, he stopped recording music in 1954. He wrote many songs during this time. But he said he "tore them up" because record labels wouldn't let him record them. He felt he "was ahead of" his time.

After leaving the music business, he continued to work at the local Comet Rice Mill. He worked there until it closed many years later. Carter still played music sometimes at local shows in Houston. He even played with famous artist B.B. King. His last live performance was in 1970. Later in his life, he developed arthritis. He passed away in Houston in 1990, at the age of 59. He is buried at the Houston National Cemetery.

Discography

Compilation Album

• Rock Awhile (1983)

Singles

Goree Carter & His Hepcats songs released in 1949:

• "Rock Awhile" b/w "Back Home Blues"
• "I'll Send You" b/w "How Can You Love Me?"
• "Hoy-Hoy" b/w "I Just Thought of You"

Goree Carter songs recorded during 1949-1950 and released during 1949-1951:

• "Love's a Gamble"
• "Christmas Time"
• "Sweet Ole Woman's Blues"
• "My Love is Coming Down"
• "She's Just Old Fashioned"
• "Workin' with My Baby"
• "Is it True?"
• "What a Friend Will Do"
• "She's my Best Bet"
• "Serenade"
• "Come on Let's Boogie"
• "Lonely World"
• "You are my Everything"
• "Every Dog Has His Day"
• "Everybody's Love Crazy"
• "I'm Just Another Fool"
• "If It's True What They Tell Me"
• "Let's Rock"
• "True Love is Hard to Find"