Pete Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete Carr
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Carr in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jesse Willard Carr |
| Born | April 22, 1950 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | June 27, 2020 (aged 70) Florence, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1965–2020 |
| Associated acts | LeBlanc and Carr, Hour Glass, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Simon and Garfunkel |
Jesse Willard "Pete" Carr (April 22, 1950 – June 27, 2020) was a talented American guitarist. He played on many popular songs for famous artists like Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, and Barbra Streisand. Pete Carr was known for being able to play many different music styles. These included folk, rock, pop, country, blues, and soul music.
He also recorded his own albums and was part of the music duo LeBlanc and Carr. Pete Carr worked a lot at famous recording studios in Alabama, like FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. He was the main guitarist for the well-known Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Besides playing, he also helped create and produce many albums. Some of these albums even received Grammy nominations, which are big music awards. For example, he helped produce Bob Seger's album Against the Wind, which won two Grammys.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Pete Carr was born in Daytona Beach, Florida and started playing the guitar when he was 13 years old. He was greatly inspired by bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. He also loved guitar songs without singing, like "Walk, Don't Run" by The Ventures. Pete learned these songs by listening closely to the records.
He also learned from other great guitarists such as James Burton and Duane Allman. When Pete was 15, he met Duane Allman, who was also a famous guitarist. This meeting started a friendship that lasted for many years. In 1968, Pete Carr played with Duane Allman and his brother Gregg Allman in a group called Hour Glass. They recorded songs at FAME Studios in Alabama, which was famous for its amazing sound.
Working in the Studio: Session Musician
Pete Carr loved working behind the scenes in recording studios. He enjoyed being a "session musician," which means he played guitar on songs for many different artists without being a main band member. He also liked helping to record and produce music. Around age 20, he moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to work in studios full-time.
He quickly became a key part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. This group of musicians played on countless hit songs for many famous artists. For about 10 years, Pete played on almost every recording session at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. A great example of his guitar playing is on Bob Seger's hit song "Mainstreet."
Pete Carr also formed a duo called LeBlanc & Carr with Lenny LeBlanc. Their song "Falling" became a big hit. They even toured with the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sadly, that tour ended tragically in October 1977. After this, Pete decided to focus on studio work again.
He was the only musician in the Muscle Shoals area who was successful as a studio player, artist, songwriter, sound engineer, and producer. Famous producer Tom Dowd asked Pete to play on a Rod Stewart album. Pete's guitar playing was a big part of the hit song "Tonight's The Night." In 1981, Pete Carr was chosen to play guitar for the Simon and Garfunkel Reunion World Tour. He played for over half a million people at their concert in Central Park.
Rolling Stone magazine praised Pete Carr for his guitar solo on Barbra Streisand's song "Make it Like a Memory." This song was on her album Guilty, which was her biggest selling album ever. Pete's guitar playing can still be heard on many classic songs today. For example, his guitar is on Bob Seger's "Mainstreet" and Paul Simon's "Kodachrome."
Pete Carr's Own Music
Pete Carr also released his own albums:
- Not A Word On It (1976)
- Multiple Flash (1978)
- Pete Carr Unreleased (2022)
Awards and Achievements
Pete Carr received many honors for his amazing contributions to music:
- 2020: Inducted into the Florida Music Hall of Fame.
- 2019: Inducted into the Southern Rock Hall of Fame.
- 2008: Inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
- 2005: Received the Studio Musician Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
- His song "Falling" was named a BMI Millionaire song, meaning it was played over a million times on the radio.
- Billboard magazine also named "Falling" one of its all-time favorite Top 40 Hits.
Award-Winning Recordings Featuring Pete Carr
Pete Carr played on many songs and albums that won awards or topped the charts:
Songs that reached #1 on Billboard charts:
- "If Loving You is Wrong" (1972) by Luther Ingram
- "Tonight's the Night" (1976–1977) by Rod Stewart
- "Torn Between Two Lovers" (1977) by Mary MacGregor
- "Woman in Love" (1980) by Barbra Streisand
- "What Kind of Fool" (1981) by Barbra Streisand
Albums that reached #1 on Billboard charts:
- Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) by Paul Simon
- Against the Wind (1980) by Bob Seger
- Guilty (1980) by Barbra Streisand
Grammy Award Winning Albums:
- Still Crazy After All These Years (1976) by Paul Simon
- Against the Wind (1980) by Bob Seger (Pete Carr was a co-producer and played guitar)
- Guilty (1981) by Barbra Streisand
Personal Life
Pete Carr lived in Florence, Alabama with his wife, Charlotte Price Carr. He had one son, John A. Carr. Pete Carr passed away on June 27, 2020, at the age of 70.
