Ron Carter

Ron Carter is a three-time Grammy winner and is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz, having recorded over 2,200 albums across a variety of genres, and has a Guinness world record to prove it! From 1963 to 1968, Carter was a member of the acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet, and can be heard on many iconic jazz records of the 60s and 70s such as “Speak No Evil,” “Maiden Voyage,” “Speak Like a Child,” and “Red Clay,” to name a few. After leaving the quintet, he embarked on a 50-year freelance career that spanned vastly different musical genres and continues to this day. He has recorded with artists including Aretha Franklin, A Tribe Called Quest, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Paul Simon. In addition to Carter’s personal creative endeavors, he is also deeply engaged in teaching music to the next generation. He was the Artistic Director of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly known as Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) and, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He has also taught at The Juilliard School and at the Manhattan School of Music, and has shared his expertise in a series of books that explain his creative process. Carter has seven honorary doctorates from The Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, University of Michigan, New England Conservatory, Clark University, Manhattan School of Music, and University of Rochester. Carter spends at least half the year on worldwide tours with his various groups, and was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contributions to Japan-US relations, the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by France, and numerous MVP and Outstanding Bassist awards by the music press. PBS released a full-length feature film documentary about Carter’s life and legend based off of his autobiography, “Finding the Right Notes.”