Benny Carter(1907-2003)
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Saxophonist, songwriter ("Because of You", "Hot Toddy", "Cow Cow
Boogie"), conductor, arranger and composer, educated at Wilberforce
University in theology. He was a saxophonist in Horace Henderson's
Wilberforce Collegians, then played in the orchestras of Fletcher
Henderson and Chick Webb. He went to Paris in 1935, and joined the
Willie Lewis Orchestra, then became the staff arranger for the BBC in
England. Returning to the USA, he formed his own orchestras in New York
and Hollywood, and began writing for films. Joining ASCAP in 1942, his
other popular-song compositions include "Dream Lullaby", "Blues in My
Heart", "Shoot the Works", "Everybody Shuffle", "Take My Word", "Blue
Interlude", "When Lights Are Low", "Night Falls", "Devil's Holiday",
"Deep South Mood", "Harlem Mood", "Manhattan Mood" "and "Poor Fool".
