Pete Carr

Early years

Carr was born in Daytona Beach, Florida and started to play the guitar at age 13. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were major influences on his early interest in music. Carr later became interested in guitar instrumentals such as "Walk Don't Run 64" by The Ventures, which he learned note for note by listening to the record. Around this time a guitar player from Memphis, Travis Wammack, released an instrumental guitar record named "Scratchy". The other side of the record was named "Fire Fly". When Carr heard "Scratchy" on the radio he was so impressed he immediately went out and bought the record. Carr also learned from listening to guitarists such as James Burton, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Ted Connors and Chet Atkins.

At the age of 15, Carr went to see the Allman Joys play at the Club Martinique in Daytona Beach. Carr, with guitar case in hand, introduced himself when the band took a break and asked Gregg Allman to show him some guitar lines. Gregg replied, "That's my brother, Duane's, department." At that point Carr introduced himself to Duane Allman. That meeting began a friendship which lasted until Allman's tragic death in a motorcycle crash October 29, 1971.

In 1968 Carr, Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Paul Hornsby and Johnny Sandlin, in a group named Hour Glass, played together on the "Power of Love" album. Also in 1968, Hour Glass recorded songs in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, at Rick Hall's FAME Studios which was known for innovative productions and great sound. One song recording at FAME, "Sweet Little Angel", was later released in a Duane Allman Anthology set. This recording is now considered a classic piece of raw electric southern rock blues.

Session work

Carr found that he preferred sessions work in recording studios along with the engineering and producing aspects of making music. He moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama around the age of 20 to pursue a studio career. Johnny Wyker and Court Pickett would soon start work on their "Motorcycle Mama" album under the artist name of "Sailcat". Carr contributed as musician, engineer and producer on the project. The album was a commercial success for the new Muscle Shoals producer. After this Carr moved into the lead guitarist seat for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

The 1970s were among the most productive of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as the cream of rock, pop and soul found their way to 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield, AL. Carr played on almost all sessions recorded at the studio for the next 10 years. A good example of Carr's musical ability and taste is the standout guitar lines he played on the Bob Seger hit "Main Street". The Rhythm Section (including Carr) co-produced Paul Simon's "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" which earned them a Grammy nomination in 1974.

Carr continued as the premier session guitarist in the Muscle Shoals area playing on projects for artists recording at the main studios and also produced two guitar instrumental albums himself. This strengthened Carr's reputation as one of the South's best studio session guitarists, as well as an artist in his own right. Jerry Wexler, a world-renowned record executive and producer, helped Carr find a record label for his productions. Carr put together the group with Lenny LeBlanc, LeBlanc & Carr, and created the album "Midnight Light" as both artist and producer. The song "Falling" became a big hit for LeBlanc & Carr. "Falling" was mixed at FAME Studios which is where Carr did most of the mixing for his production projects. The group's first tour was with Lynyrd Skynyrd on the "Street Survivors Tour" and ended tragically with an airplane crash in Mississippi, October 20, 1977. After this tragedy, and other band problems, Carr decided to return to the studio.

Pete Carr had distinguished himself as the only studio musician in the Muscle Shoals area to succeed as studio musician, artist, composer, engineer and producer. Tom Dowd called Carr to Los Angeles to play on a Rod Stewart album which produced the big hit "Tonight's The Night". Carr's guitar playing was a prominent part of the hit. He layered rhythm and lead guitars throughout the song. In 1981 Carr was chosen to play for the Simon and Garfunkel Reunion World Tour and the legendary HBO Central Park Concert on September 19, 1981 where he played acoustic and electric guitars. Over half a million people were in attendance for the concert.

Rolling Stone magazine gave Carr a rave review for his bluesy and tasty electric guitar solo on the Barbra Streisand song "Make it Like a Memory" from her Grammy award winning "Guilty" album. "Guilty" was Streisand's biggest selling album in her recording history. On the song "Woman in Love" from the same album, Carr's opening harmony guitar lines were notably unique and hard to categorize but very effective in introducing this Streisand hit.

Carr's contribution to American music continues to be heard daily around the globe. Songs featuring Carr's lead guitar such as Bob Seger's "Mainstreet" and Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" are standards. During the Falklands War of 1982, as British battle ships set sail to reclaim the Islands the BBC (The British Broadcasting Corporation) played the Rod Stewart song "Sailing" nationwide. "Sailing" featured Carr's acoustic and electric guitar playing.

Discography

Awards and achievements

Award winning recordings on which Pete Carr played

Billboard #1 Singles:

Billboard #1 Albums:

Grammy Award Winning Albums:

Grammy Nominated Albums:

Grammy Nominated Record of the Year:

Personal life

Carr currently resides in Florence, Alabama with his wife, Charlotte. He has one child, John Carr, who studies and works at Auburn University.