Carter Family Historical Marker

A.P. Carter (1891-1960) grew up on a farm in Scott County, Virginia. He gained an interest in music from an early age, learning how to play the guitar and sing. His father played the banjo, his mother sang folk ballads, and his uncle, Flanders, taught singing. Flanders also taught A.P. how to read shape note songbooks. In 1915, he met and married Sara (1898-1979) on June 18. Sara was born in Copper Creek, Virginia and became known for her distinct singing voice. She and A.P. usually performed in churches in their neighborhood. The duo was a little unusual in that they performed together; traditionally mountain singers typically sang by themselves. In 1927, Sara's sister-in-law, Maybelle (1909-1978), joined them. She began playing guitar at age 12 and eventually developed a new picking style technique (called the "Carter Lick") in which she simultaneously played the melody and rhythm at the same time.

In the next several years, the trio recorded a number of songs that became country music standards. These included “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow,” “The Storms Are on the Ocean,” “Keep on the Sunny Side,” and “I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes.” Sara usually sang lead vocals and played the guitar or autoharp; Maybelle usually played lead guitar and sang harmony; and A.P. sometimes sang lead, background or harmony, but he primarily arranged songs and booked gigs.

In the 1930s, several radio stations hired the trio but their biggest contract, as noted above, was in 1938 when XERA hired them. The station used a signal that was much stronger than other stations in the U.S. could use. As a result, the Cater's songs were heard by more listeners than ever before. Also in the 1930s, a some of their children began performing as well. They would continue to perform as adults.

The original Carter Family broke up in 1943. Sara and her second husband (she and A.P. divorced in 1933 but continued to perform together) moved to California. A.P. opened a country store in his hometown of Maces Spring, Virginia. Maybelle started to perform with her daughters and later moved to Nashville, Tennessee. A.P. and Sara recorded several records in 1952 and later in 1967, Sara and Maybelle reunited to make record. Three years later, the original Carter Family was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"Carter Family." Country Music Hall of Fame. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/carter-family.

"The Carter Family in Del Rio." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=36894.

Lornell, K., & the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. "Sara Carter (1898–1979)." March 1, 2016. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Virginia. http://www.EncyclopediaVirginia.org/Carter_Sara_1898-1979.