Saxophonist, songwriter , conductor, arranger and composer, educated at Wilberforce University in theology. He was a saxophonist in Horace Henderson's Wilberforce Collegians, then played in the orchestras of Fletcher Henderson and Chick Webb. He went to Paris in 1935, and joined the Willie Lewis Orchestra, then became the staff arranger for the BBC in England. Returning to the USA, he formed his own orchestras in New York and Hollywood, and began writing for films. Joining ASCAP in 1942, his other popular-song compositions include "Dream Lullaby", "Blues in My Heart", "Shoot the Works", "Everybody Shuffle", "Take My Word", "Blue Interlude", "When Lights Are Low", "Night Falls", "Devil's Holiday", "Deep South Mood", "Harlem Mood", "Manhattan Mood" "and "Poor Fool".
Jazz musician.
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988.
Benny Carter was one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, and he received the National Medal of Arts in 2000.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 9, 1995.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 68-70. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
Benny Carter passed away on July 12, 2003, a month away from what would have been his 96th birthday on August 8.
Had one daughter: Joyce Carter.
