A.P. Carter
A.P. Carter (December 15, 1891 – November 7, 1960) was a founding member of the Carter Family and father of Janette Carter. Born in Maces Spring, Virginia (later Hiltons) to Robert C. Carter and Mollie Arvelle Bays, he suffered from a tremor in his right hand attributed to a lightning strike during his mother's pregnancy, but learned fiddle and guitar despite this disability. On June 18, 1915, he married Sara Dougherty, with whom he had three children: Gladys, Janette, and Joe. In 1927, he formed the Carter Family with Sara and his sister-in-law Maybelle (married to his brother Ezra), making their first recordings in Bristol, Tennessee, for Victor Records. As a traveling salesman, A.P. collected songs throughout Central Appalachia, often accompanied by friend Lesley Riddle, gathering material from church services and local musicians. He and Sara separated in 1932 and divorced in 1939, with the original Carter Family disbanding in 1943. A.P. then ran a general store in Hiltons, Virginia. From 1952-1956, he reunited with Sara and children Janette and Joe to record for Acme Records. He died of arteriosclerotic heart disease on November 7, 1960, in Kingsport, Tennessee. A.P. was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970), Country Music Hall of Fame (1970), and posthumously into the IBMA Hall of Honor (2001). His daughter Janette fulfilled his wishes by establishing the Carter Family Fold at his former store, continuing regular Appalachian music performances.