Legendary Bassist Ron Carter Inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Renowned jazz bassist Ron Carter has officially been inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy in the world of music. The induction took place on August 3rd during a ceremony at the historic Carver Theatre in Birmingham, a venue that also marked the grand reopening of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame headquarters.

The Carver Theatre, closed for renovations since 2017, reopened its lobby and performance hall in 2022. However, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame's museum and the Jazz Hall Radio studio remained closed for further upgrades, officially reopening to the public on August 6.

Ron Carter, affectionately known as Mr. Carter or Maestro Carter, is celebrated as one of the most influential jazz bassists. His tenure with Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet from 1963 to 1968, alongside Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams, is legendary. Post-quintet, Carter's freelance career saw him collaborating with icons like Lena Horne, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley, and Gil Scott-Heron. His versatility extended to genres beyond jazz, recording with artists such as Roberta Flack, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Bette Midler, and Aretha Franklin. Notably, Carter ventured into hip hop in the 90s, playing on A Tribe Called Quest's album "The Low End Theory." With over 2,500 albums to his credit, Carter holds a Guinness World Record as the most recorded bassist in history, in addition to winning three Grammy awards.

Although a Michigan native, Carter's roots trace back to Alabama through his mother, Willie Carter, who hailed from Lee County near Birmingham. Carter shared his connection to Alabama earlier this summer when announcing the Jazz Hall of Fame honor on social media.

The induction ceremony was attended by over 100 people, including jazz enthusiasts, educators, musicians, and community leaders from across the state. Bishop Jim Lowe, son of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame founder J.L. Lowe and president of the board of directors, led the award presentation. He was joined on stage by State Rep. Mary Moore, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales, and Birmingham City Council member Carole Clarke, who presented Carter with an engraved medal and a resolution from the Alabama State Senate.

“It is my honor to give this to you. For Ron Carter, from the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. This is something we could not do if it had not been for the state, the city, and the county. We recognize this great musician, this great man who contributed so much to jazz,” said Lowe as the hall erupted in applause.

Carter, visibly moved, kept his remarks brief but heartfelt. “I may come back later and say a little more. But just a little!” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

The ceremony was followed by a tribute concert featuring a band with Gary Motley on piano, Sherman Irby on saxophone, Rodney Whitaker on bass, Ben Johnson on drums, Collins “Bo” Berry on trumpet, and vocalist Veronica Swift. The set included Carter’s compositions and concluded with "Stars Fell on Alabama."

After the concert, Carter gave a brief speech and playfully bit his medal, reminiscent of Olympic gold medalists, as photographers captured the moment. “This is mine!” he declared, before taking a turn on the bass, playing for about 20 minutes. Post-performance, Carter mingled with the audience, signing autographs and taking photos, and ended the evening with a final round of photos at the museum.

Orville Ifill, vice president of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame board of directors, shared that Carter’s induction was the result of a year-long effort. The idea came from a conversation with retired Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown, Hasan Shahid, and Dr. Eugene Cain. Cain mentioned Carter's Alabama roots, sparking the idea for his induction. Despite delays due to renovations, Carter remained committed, and the induction was finally realized.

Carter spent the day before the induction meeting with Birmingham jazz musicians and educators. Reflecting on his visit, Carter expressed his joy, “I’ve had some great grits. I’ve had a lot of hot sun. And I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. Being in Birmingham for this long is just amazing to me.”

Carter looks forward to returning to Alabama, both to network and explore his ancestry, which also has ties to the state on his father’s side. He praised the Jazz Hall of Fame museum and expressed enthusiasm for Birmingham’s rich jazz history. Carter's induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame aligns with the organization's mission to preserve jazz through education, a cause close to Carter's heart as an educator.

“My job is to keep playing and keep teaching,” said Carter, committed to nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians.