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 Carter Burnette has been surrounded by music all of his life. This Philadelphia area native started piano lessons at the age of five and attended the esteemed Settlement Music School where he studied classical piano, organ and music theory. In high school he played seven different instruments and under the tutelage of Dr. Carol Austin he learned scoring techniques. He arranged popular songs for his high school marching band, which performed twice at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
During his high school summer years he worked as a light jockey in popular discotheques along with some of Philadelphia’s hottest DJs. This experience enabled him to meet local and national record promoters who suggested he work with them. Carter became an intern at Philadelphia International Records and later became the Director of Dance Music Promotions for WMOT Records working alongside A&R director Nick Martinelli.
In 1981 Carter performed freelance promotions for John Hammond’s Zoo York Records and Are and Be Records in New York and Houston. He served as a production assistant on the Cherie album, “Murphy’s Law” which went gold. He also wrote and produced an album for Are and Be’s Los Angeles artist Barbara Cole.
While living in Houston, some of Carter’s other projects included writing songs for radio jock Susie Stilwell, and co-producing The Noisy Neighbors. He was a pioneer in the arts scene by moving into and supporting the Houston Artists’ Warehouse Alliance. He collaborated with visual artists and his music was infused into multimedia projects.
In 1983 he became a staff writer for Wave Records. He returned to Philadelphia in 1984 and became a staff writer for Theola Music in 1986 and Sea Lion Productions in 1988. In 1988, Carter scored a new age ballet entitled, “SYNTHESIS” for the Springfield Ballet Company. In 1985, he served as Music Director for the film “Stand Back” which featured his original music. He also scored video and info-mercials for a diverse client base including the CertainTeed Corporation.
In 1986, Carter became the proud recipient of The Working fund Grant administered by The Fleisher Art Memorial. He is the only person to have been awarded this grant three times. He also produced a multimedia exhibit for the Working Fund in conjunction with MANNA’s benefit “Shut Up and Dance”.
In 1995, Carter formed WhatEver Productions, a firm that specializes in new media marketing for his music industry clients and others. His efforts allowed Nick Martinelli to be nominated for the Philadelphia Walk of Fame. Other music clients include Dionne Warwick, Cynthia Biggs, Erin Riley, Mary Griffin, Global Productions, Jean Carne, Marjorie Hughes, the late Nathan Heathman and others.
In 1998, Carter was commissioned by Jimmy Biddle to score an anthem for the esteemed Biddle Estate, Andalusia.
In January 2008, Carter and his team completed an adaptation of Kitty Kelley's Unauthorized Biography of Nancy Reagan in music theatre format. The musical entitled "First Lady: The Nancy Davis Reagan Story" made history while being presented to Ms. Kelley and her agents at William Morris. WhatEver Productions was the first theatrical production company ever to hold online auditions and rehearsals via Skype software.
Carter continues to cultivate regional talent, develop practical applications of new technologies, and is an active member of his community. |
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