Carter Family

The Carter Family was a famous American folk music group. They performed and recorded from 1927 until 1956. People call them "The First Family of Country Music." Their music helped shape many styles like bluegrass and rock. They were also the first vocal group to become country stars. Their songs are still very important to music today.

Making their music required great skill and teamwork. Sara Carter sang the lead parts. She also played the rhythm guitar or the autoharp. Maybelle Carter sang harmony and played the lead guitar. Her special way of playing is called the "Carter Scratch." She used her thumb to play the melody on low strings. Then she used her fingers to brush the high strings for rhythm. This allowed her to play two parts at once.

The group began in the mountains of southwest Virginia. The original members were Sara, her husband A. P., and Maybelle. Maybelle was also Sara's first cousin. They grew up singing mountain gospel music. On August 1, 1927, they went to Bristol, Tennessee. They went there to audition for producer Ralph Peer. They recorded in an empty warehouse for the Victor Talking Machine Company.

The Carters became very successful very quickly. By the end of 1930, they sold 300,000 records. They earned $50 for every song they recorded. A. P. Carter also traveled to find new songs to record. He even befriended a guitar player named Lesley Riddle. In the 1930s, the family performed on radio stations. They even worked on a border station in Mexico. This station could be heard across much of the United States.

Their musical legacy lives on through many generations. They were the first group in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their famous songs include "Wildwood Flower" and "Keep on the Sunny Side." Many of these songs are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Later, Maybelle's daughters performed as "The Carter Sisters." Even their grandchildren have made music together. Their story is told in books and even a documentary film.