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“Some people call me crazy but life is too short to take the easy road. If I don’t seize the opportunity now, I will always wonder where I could have gone with it” says John Carter the laid back, Arkansas native when asked why he is getting out of the Marine Corps after 10 years to pursue a country music career. “Nothing else will make me happy.”
John Carter’s dream has not always been to excel as a country music artist. Towering at 6’5, his original dream was to play football, and the Marine Corps offered an opportunity to continue his passion after high school. “You might say that my ego got the best of me. The recruiter dared me by saying I could play if I was good enough, and the next thing I knew I was signing papers.”
Carter’s foundation in music started like many other musicians - in church. Every Sunday, John and his family would sit together in two pews toward the back and each would contribute with harmonized parts. Individually, John practiced his vocal ability with an 8-track player. “During the summer when school was out, I would sit on my parents’ bed and listen to the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, and Ronnie Milsap over and over. Being poor, that 8-track player was one of the best forms of entertainment I had to keep me out of trouble.”
Throughout his 10 years in the military, John has had a range of positive experiences. While aboard ship as a helicopter door gunner for six months, John spent his off-duty hours teaching himself to play guitar. “As a kid, my dad played the guitar; but I was always intimidated to try it. I guess I didn’t think I could do it. It was embarrassing to learn to play the guitar on a ship. I would stay awake late at night and practice in the hanger so I wouldn’t bother anyone. I thought of myself as that next door neighbor learning to play the trombone.”
John didn’t have to hide his music for long. After returning from the six-month float, Carter started a band. “Man, did we suck. The bass guitarist had never played before, so our lead guitarist would shout out the notes as we played; and the drummer couldn’t hold a beat. I was pretty green myself. We even had the cops called on us several times…a week.”
An uncommon obstacle that John had to encounter was the fact that band members were always deploying and being sent on exercises causing constant change up, including John himself. In June 2002, he was sent to Okinawa, Japan. “The good thing about that is I have been fortunate to be able to perform for people from every state and also many foreign countries. In Japan, I met some really phenomenal musicians that have advanced my abilities and some great fans that increased my confidence. They really believe in me and my dream.”
Fans have really responded to John’s original tunes. “The first song I co-wrote “7&7” went over really well in Okinawa. Listeners would request that song and sales of 7 & 7 would shoot up. I’ll bet Seagram’s noticed the increase during the three years I entertained in Japan.”
Keep a look out for Nashville's hottest up and comming country artist. Check out www.johncarter-music.com for more info.........
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