Carter, Benny (Bennet Lester) 1907-
US alto saxophonist, trumpeter and composer

Born in New York City, he was largely self-taught as a musician, and plays trumpet and clarinet in addition to his primary instrument, alto saxophone. His warm tone and elegant flowing lines were hugely influential on the style of the swing era, and he is among the most important writers of big band arrangements composing for the Benny Goodman orchestra, among others. He lived in London from 1936-38, where his influence was enormous, and settled in Los Angeles in 1942. He was one of the first black writers to work on film (and later television) soundtracks within the studio system in Hollywood. He played occasional concerts, but stepped up his activities in the 1970s, and continued into the 1990s, playing in a sophisticated mainstream style which registered his awareness of post-swing developments.

Bibliography: M and E Berger A Life In American Music (1982)