William Carter. Photo courtesy of the artist.
William Carter
clarinet
1934-

Los Angeles born William Carter graduated from Stanford University in 1957. He became a professional photographer, writer and editor while pursuing fine art photography. In New York, Carter worked as a book editor for Harper & Row, 1961-63. A photojournalist based in Beirut 1964-66, he published in LIFE, the London Sunday Times, Geographical Magazine and others. From 1966-69 he free-lanced from London, taking assignments for clients including The New York Times and Women’s Wear Daily.

Carter’s photographs have been widely exhibited in the U.S. and Europe. His prints are in permanent collections at the Getty Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery in Washington DC and the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany.

Mr. Carter’s permanent love affair with New Orleans jazz led him to create his third book of text and photographs, Preservation Hall, in 1991. He was an avid supporter of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's early concert forays into Northern California in the 1960s and 70s. Mr. Carter also serves as President of the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation. As a jazz performer, he toured with Turk Murphy's band. Currently he appears in the Bay Area with Clint Baker's New Orleans Jazz Band at Cafe Borrone in Menlo Park, CA and other venues. He joined The Jim Cullum Jazz Band for a Riverwalk Jazz broadcast recorded live at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, celebrating the stories and music of Preservation Hall.