|
Picture of the day -
January 23, 2006
Janette Carter: Memories Of A Legend
July 2, 1923 - January 22, 2006
Photo and narrative by Rick Rouse.
If I were asked to use a single word to describe
Janette Carter, it would
probably have to be faithful. She was faithful to her dying father A.P.
after he asked her to do whatever she could to keep the music and legacy of the
original Carter Family alive. She did just that by starting the Old Time
Music Show over 30 years ago and hosting it herself at the
Carter Family
Fold in Hiltons,
Virginia week-in and week-out for all of those years.
Janette was also faithful to her heritage and her family's precious musical
legacy. She vowed to allow only acoustic instruments on the Carter Fold stage,
and with only two exceptions for highly unusual circumstances (special
performances by Johnny Cash and Marty Stuart) she always kept that vow.
She was also extremely faithful to the Carter Fold's patrons. She knew that the
Old Time Music Show always had many out-of-state guests and even some from
out-of-the-country, so she made sure that the shows went on as scheduled even
when the weather was poor. With Janette in charge, shows at the Fold were
rarely canceled.
If you ask Janette's children, they'll tell you that she was also very faithful to
her "kin" and her friends. She loved her family dearly, and after her beloved
brother Joe passed away last year it left a void in her life and her heart that
would never be filled during the remainder of her earthly life. Joe was more
than just a brother to Janette - he was her best friend and a most-trusted confidant.
Yes, this wonderful lady was indeed faithful to all who knew and loved her, but
above all else she was faithful to her God. Janette was a Christian lady and she
wasn't ashamed to let everyone know it. She had strict rules about what was
appropriate for Carter Fold performers and guests, and she made sure they were
followed at all times. No cussing or obscene gestures were allowed on the stage,
and dancing during gospel songs was a big no-no. Gospel songs were very
important to Janette and she made sure that every performance included several
of them.
The past year was a rough one for Janette. Just a few months after losing Joe,
her son Don succumbed to complications of surgery. At about that time her own
health began a downhill slide that her doctors were never really able to
reverse. But through all of the heartaches and painful health problems, Janette
never lost her optimism or her strong faith in God. And she never lost her
beautiful smile or failed to put one on the faces of her family, friends and
guests.
On a personal note, I had the privilege of speaking with Janette on several
occasions at the Fold, and she was always extremely gracious and hospitable. One
Saturday evening I approached her as she was sitting on the stage waiting for
the show to start. She was warming up with her autoharp and it sounded
wonderful. I asked her if I could take her picture and she said sure. She smiled
at me with her expressive face and I could tell that she was genuinely happy
that I wanted to take her picture.
The next Saturday I took a framed 8x10 print of
that picture and gave it to her.
With a tear in her eye, she told me that she guessed she must have had her
picture taken at least 500 times (it was probably more like 5,000) and I was the
first person who ever came back and gave her one of them. To this day that
picture sits among the others up on the Carter Fold stage. Janette didn't even
really know me, but she always treated me like I was her best friend. That's just the
way she was.
Janette was a very special lady with an iron will that was coupled with a
heart of gold. She could have easily used her status as a member of the original
Carter Family and her exceptional talents to make it big in Nashville, but she
didn't. She chose instead to remain in her beloved Poor Valley where she worked
long hours, raised her children in a good Christian home and faithfully kept the
solemn promise she had made to her father on his deathbed. She chose
the right way over the easy way and we are all blessed by her many
contributions to music and the world in general.
Janette Carter passed away yesterday morning bringing her long battle with
illness and injury to an end. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her and we all
owe her a debt of gratitude that we'll never be able to repay. But there is good
news as well as bad...
The circle is now unbroken. At this very moment Janette is no doubt standing
alongside A.P., Sara, Maybelle, Joe, and other Carter Family members and friends
as they sing praises to the God she so loved while on
this earth. She is now at peace in the presence of her
Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ and her spirit will forever guide the hands that steer the course of her
beloved Carter Family Fold.
Picture Of The Day Homepage |
Submit
a photo
More Interesting Articles
|
|
|