Ken Carter was born in Turlock, California in 1956 and presently lives in Grass Valley, CA with his wife Patti Carter. He began playing trumpet when he was 10 years old and played during his elementary, junior high and high school years. He played at Cabrillo Junior college for 2 years and then accepted a music scholarship to play trumpet at Azusa Pacific University in their flagship music group “Bridge”. Ken played 1st trumpet in the group, and he also arranged songs for them. They traveled throughout the Western United States representing the school music department. After college, Ken became a high school Band Director and continued to play trumpet.
He played in the Jack Lantz Big Band and had his own Brass Quintet and Jazz Quintet. He was a member of the 9-piece dance band “The Professors”, which performed throughout Southern California. He has played with Bill Watrous, Louis Bellson and the Dick Shearer Big Band as well as the L.A. Jazz Workshop big bands. In 1997, Ken moved to Northern CA and continued to teach High School Music and play trumpet. In 2000, he moved to Grass Valley, CA and taught High School Music for 21 years. Since retiring, he has been playing in numerous groups throughout the area. He is very excited to have the opportunity to perform with Chicago the Tribute.
