Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CARTER, Carlene

(b 26 Sep. '55, Nashville TN) Singer. Based in London, resists close identification with Nashville, but has impeccable country music pedigree: daughter of June Carter and Carl Smith; mother married to Johnny Cash; half-sister Rosanne Cash married to Rodney Crowell; learned guitar from grandmother Maybelle Carter. Cheerleader at Henderson High School; married at 15; third husband ('79; later divorced) was Nick Lowe. Toured as part of Carter Family, worked as model; came to London, made debut LP Carlene Carter '77 with contributions from Lowe, prod. and backed on record by Graham Parker's the Rumour: incl. Crowell's 'Never Together, But Close Sometimes', minor UK hit. LP Two Sides To Every Woman '79 followed by Musical Shapes '80, prod. by Lowe: incl. Cash's 'Ring Of Fire', duet with Dave Edmunds on Richard Dobson's 'Baby Ride Easy', Carter Family classic 'Foggy Mountain Top', her own 'Appalachian Eyes', 'Too Bad About Sandy'. Next album Blue Nun '81 not as well received, despite help from members of Squeeze; single 'Do It In A Heartache' made US country chart '80. C'est Si Bon '83 incl. members of Rockpile, Lowe's band; live shows always first class, with musicians from Rockpile, Rumour; joined family during Cash's '81 UK tour to sing 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken?'. In London cast of show Pump Boys And Dinettes '84; made short film seen at London Film Festival, Too Drunk (To Remember), based on song from Musical Shapes; to star in London musical Angry Housewives '86, walked out first week of rehearsals. Back to Nashville '89, sang with Southern Pacific for a hit single, signed to Reprise and made country top ten with 'I Fell In Love' '90, joined Giant Records '93 with hit 'Every Little Thing'.