Pops Carter's story is one of a modern day "Crossroads", only in real life instead of 70mm. He was born in Shreveport, La., a virtual breeding and training ground of blues and other prominent artists of the 20th Century (Huddie Ledbetter, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Elvis Presley).In 1930, 12-year-old Tom Carter left Northwest Louisiana just as he had started working the cotton fields. He packed everything he owned in a pillowcase and headed for Houston, where within a year he had hooked up with a 13-piece band. He spent his youth in the Houston area, and through his early adult life sang at picnics and churches and anywhere else he was called to please people using only a smile, a few dance steps and his honey-warm throat. Eventually though, dedication to his family and a day job limited Pops to spots as a guest in R&B revues, performing with numerous friends as well as new acquaintances.In 1969, a construction job landed Pops in the deceptively sleepy college town of Denton, Texas. He stayed there and retired with his wife Minnie Lee (who is Lightin' Hopkins' cousin). The North Texas prairie community was perfect for Pops, offering fertile creative ground for the middle-aged songster. Drawing on the wellspring of aspiring musicians studying at the University of North Texas' music school, Pops was inspired and energized.During the 1970s and '80s, Pops honed his stage skills as a guest artist with innumerable rock, jazz, blues and country acts, and also fronted more than a few excellent (but short-lived) bands of his own. Finally, in 1990, with guitarist Christopher Tracey, he formed The Funkmonsters. The band's goal is simple: to provide a forum that allows Pops to touch as many lives as possible with his natural charisma and musical prowess.Although the roster of the band over the years has been filled with a literal Who's Who of Texas R&B and jazz musicians, it is the unmistakable sound of one of The South's original bluesmen that moves blues lovers and audiences of all musical genres. Pops has sung with many legends of the blues: B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, among others. New York City, Memphis, Fresno, Portland, Denver, Austin and of course the Dallas-Fort Worth area are just a few of the places he has honored with his presence.With a new recording under his belt, the coming year promises much, much more for Mr. Pops Carter, a funky blues master and living legend of North Texas.
