Bill Carter

Austin-based Bill Carter writes the kind of songs other artists turn to for inspiration and for their own material. Over the past three decades, he has earned a reputation for his own recordings and for providing songs for many legends of rock, blues and country, including <a href="spotify:artist:6zmLTiN3NBNCDECRbbJKkT" data-name="The Fabulous Thunderbirds">The Fabulous Thunderbirds</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5s4z3mRAE7nxE3jjft8J3h" data-name="John Mayall">John Mayall</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4EYVgfZJ8wKXWmIvCx3gOY" data-name="Ruth Brown">Ruth Brown</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:530Sdm7eqqzWBdDmILMgnu" data-name="Robert Palmer">Robert Palmer</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7HQH1SJokcVMdstilKJ2S8" data-name="The Brian Setzer Orchestra">The Brian Setzer Orchestra</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7wCjDgV6nqBsHguQXPAaIM" data-name="Waylon Jennings">Waylon Jennings</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:5fsDcuclIe8ZiBD5P787K1" data-name="Stevie Ray Vaughan">Stevie Ray Vaughan</a>’s cover of Carter’s &quot;<a href="spotify:track:5bAOP88AnFD11mTj0HisF2" data-name="Crossfire">Crossfire</a>&quot; earned Carter a BMI “Million Air” award for more than three million spins. In 2013, Carter penned &quot;<a href="spotify:track:0NlHh8Mpt18hBzQvH0KjEI" data-name="Anything Made Of Paper">Anything Made Of Paper</a>&quot; for the West Memphis 3’s Damien Echols, which Carter recorded with pal Johnny Depp and performed on the Late Show With David Letterman.

On his own acclaimed records Carter has previously assembled some of the finest sidemen in music. They include Bob Dylan guitarists <a href="spotify:artist:132XHXfIbAJi5jQKmH986p" data-name="Charlie Sexton">Charlie Sexton</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2sCGPaXs1se0qKtGeXAgcv" data-name="Denny Freeman">Denny Freeman</a>, drummer Dony Wynn (Robert Palmer), keyboardist Mike Thompson (the Eagles), and the <a href="spotify:artist:3JdpufExn0WuxjC2LvAOic" data-name="Tosca String Quartet">Tosca String Quartet</a> .

Though Carter just about holds native-son status in Austin, his roots actually trace back to Kentucky where his father, Cash Carter was born. Cash was the son of William Henry Carter (Bill’s namesake). William Henry’s first cousin was A.P. Carter, scion of country royals the Carter Family. Like so many kids of his generation, Carter picked up a guitar after hearing Bob Dylan and joined a band after hearing the Beatles. He made his way to Austin in 1976 where he soon met his partner and collaborator, Ruth Ellsworth.