Benny Carter

Benny Carter

Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career in the 1920s, he worked as an arranger including written charts for Fletcher Henderson's big band that shaped the swing style. He had an unusually long career that lasted into the 1990s. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, which included receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Birth and Death Data: Born Harlem, Died July 12, 2003 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1968

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, trumpet, director, arranger, clarinet, leader, composer, saxophone, songwriter, tenor saxophone, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 203 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Brunswick	B23688	10-in.	11/09/1938	April in my heart	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Brunswick	B23689	10-in.	11/09/1938	I'll never fail you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Brunswick	B23690	10-in.	11/09/1938	They say	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Brunswick	B24044	10-in.	1/30/1939	What shall I say?	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B24045	10-in.	1/30/1939	It's easy to blame the weather	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B24046	10-in.	1/30/1939	More than you know	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B24047	10-in.	1/30/1939	Sugar (That sugar baby o' mine)	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Gramophone	0SW4	10-in.	3/7/1938	I'm coming Virginia	Benny Carter Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	arranger, director
Gramophone	0SW6	10-in.	3/7/1938	Blue light blues	Benny Carter Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Gramophone	0LA1742	10-in.	4/28/1937	Honeysuckle rose	Coleman Hawkins All-Star Jam Band	Jazz/dance band	arranger
Gramophone	0B2188	10-in.	2/12/1932	Blues in my heart	New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Roost	1123	10-in.	approximately 1950	Blues in my heart	Eddie Davis ; Bill Doggett		composer
Exclusive	EXC-1292	10-in.	12/31/1949	Baby I'm gone	Ernie Andrews ; Dave Barbour ; Red Callender ; Calvin Jackson Orchestra ; Benny Carter ; Calvin Jackson ; Manny Klein ; Jackie Mills		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Mercury	4535	10-in.	1951	I lost you	Debbie Andrews		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Mercury	4536	10-in.	1951	I ain't got nobody	Debbie Andrews		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Decca	38598	10-in.	9/11/1934	Limehouse blues-1, 5	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		arranger
Decca	38601	10-in.	9/11/1934	Happy as the day is long-3, 5	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		arranger
Decca	38723	10-in.	9/25/1934	Wild party-1, 5	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Decca	38724	10-in.	9/25/1934	Rug cutter's swing-1, 2, 4	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Decca	38725	10-in.	9/25/1934	Hotter than 'ell-1, 4	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Decca	38728	10-in.	9/25/1934	Liza-1, 3	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone
Decca	39217	10-in.	1/2/1935	It's unbelievable	Bob Howard Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone, trumpet
Decca	39218	10-in.	1/2/1935	Whisper sweet	Bob Howard Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone, trumpet
Decca	39219	10-in.	1/2/1935	Throwin' stones at the sun	Bob Howard Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone, trumpet
Decca	39220	10-in.	1/2/1935	You fit into the picture	Bob Howard Orchestra		instrumentalist, alto saxophone, trumpet

(Results 101-125 of 203 records)

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Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Carter, Benny," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103374.

Carter, Benny. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103374.

"Carter, Benny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.