Ezra Carter

Ezra J. Carter (also known as Eck Carter) (1898-1975) was a member of the Carter Family of Virginia. Ezra Carter managed the famous Carter Family, a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. He was the husband of Maybelle Addington Carter (1909–1978), brother of Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter (1891–1960) and father of June Carter (1929-2003).

Ezra Carter was born on Oct. 21, 1898 in Maces Spring, Virginia and married Maybelle Addington in 1926.^[1] Using his car, the Carter Family drove to the original Bristol Sessions recordings in 1926 where Appalachian country music was recorded for one of the first times.^[2] He eventually retired from being a railroad postal worker and became the manager of the Carter Family group after the divorce of A.P. Carter and Sara Carter and directed the stage performances of his family.^[3] When the Grand Ole Opry invited the family to perform regularly, but requested that they leave Chet Atkins out of the group, Ezra insisted that Chet remain.^[4] Carter was also responsible for constructing a dam and bringing the first electricity to Poor Valley, Virginia. He died on Jan. 22, 1975 and is buried in Hendersonville, Tennessee. His home is now known as the Maybelle and Ezra Carter House in Maces Spring, Scott County, Virginia and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[5]

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