Goree Carter

Goree Chester Carter or Christer Carter (January 1, 1931 – December 27, 1990), was an American singer, guitarist, drummer, and songwriter. He was also credited with the stage names Little T-Bone, Rocky Thompson and Gory Carter, and recorded music in blues genres such as electric blues, jump blues and Texas blues, as well as rock and roll.

He is best known for his 1949 single, "Rock Awhile," which has been cited by several sources as the first rock and roll record, featuring an over-driven electric guitar style similar to that of Chuck Berry years later. Carter recorded "Rock Awhile" at the age of 18, and its rediscovery has posthumously brought him recognition as a forefather of rock and roll. As a young man, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and was a veteran of the Korean War.

Birth and Death Data: Born Houston (seat of Harris County, and largest city in State of Texas, United States), Died December 29, 1990 (Houston (seat of Harris County, and largest city in State of Texas, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1951 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Mercury 3836 10-in. 1/4/1951 Cloudy weather blues Lee Graves instrumentalist, guitar  
Mercury 3838 10-in. 1/4/1951 Papa said yes, mama said no, no, no Lee Graves instrumentalist, guitar  
Duke ACA 2962 10-in. approximately 1955 Let's make love Goree Carter vocalist  
Duke ACA 2963 10-in. approximately 1955 My love comes down to you Goree Carter vocalist  
Duke ACA 2964 10-in. approximately 1955 Let me be your fellow Goree Carter vocalist  
Duke ACA 2965 10-in. approximately 1955 All exhausted Goree Carter vocalist  
Decca H-108 5/15/1951 I've got news for you Goree Carter vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca H-109 5/15/1951 I'm your boogie man Goree Carter vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca H-110 5/15/1951 Please say you're mine Goree Carter vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca H-111 5/15/1951 Tell me, is there still a chance? Goree Carter vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Carter, Goree," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/201633.

Carter, Goree. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/201633.

"Carter, Goree." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/201633

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