Joe Carter, of Famous Country Family, Dies

03/03/2005 11:52 PM, AP


Joe Carter, a member of the famous Carter Family of music, died of
cancer Wednesday at his home. He was 78.

Carter was a cornerstone of the preservation of old-time mountain
music and helped build the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Va., which
presented shows of country and bluegrass music every weekend.

"We had been anticipating and trying to get ourselves ready for
this, but it still hurts to give him up," Carter Fold executive and
Carter's niece, Rita Forrester, told the Kingsport Times-News. "They
broke the mold when they made my Uncle Joe."

Carter was 5 months old when he traveled with his parents, A.P. and
Sara Carter, from Maces Springs to Bristol in 1927 for a recording
session that has been called "the big bang of country music." It
launched the careers of A.P., Sara and her cousin Maybelle Carter as
the Carter Family trio.

Joe Carter, who performed at the Carter Family Fold, was the last
direct connection to anyone who was at that original session, his
friend Tim White said Thursday.

Marty Stuart, Tom T. Hall and John Carter Cash, son of Johnny and
June Carter Cash, are listed among the pallbearers for Carter's
funeral Sunday. June Carter Cash was Maybelle Cash's daughter