Fables and Stories: Tales From an Alabama Troubadour

By Rick Carter

Rick Carter's father served in three branches of the US military. As a result, Rick spent his youth traveling the world, living on and off military bases with his family. From the Philippines to Japan and all across America, he experienced life in a way most of us never see.

His mother was a pianist and instilled a love for music at an early age. He began playing in bands at 14, chose music as a career after a brief semester in college, and is still touring now. Over the years, he has shared the stage with many of his musical heroes, including Gregg Allman, Jimmy Buffet, The B 52s, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hall, Marcus King, Nicky Hopkins, Jason Isbell, The Marshall Tucker Band, Widespread Panic, Willie Nelson, and ZZ Top.

Rick has been gathering stories and observations for years, and at 67 has written his first book, Fables and Stories - Tales From an Alabama Troubadour. In it he has penned tales of childhood innocence, of learning to cope in other countries, of love & loss, as well as wonderful tributes to his heroes and those closest to him. Also included are some of his most recent lyrics, prose, and fables. With such a conglomeration of writings, there is sure to be plenty that is appealing to every reader.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667812847

Book preview

cover.jpg

Copyright © 2021 Rick Carter, Prairie Eden Music

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Print ISBN: 978-1-66781-283-0

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-66781-284-7

Printed in the United States of America

Cover photograph by Liesa Cole

Cover design by Tony Carter

Edited by Lisa Gholson

"If your face is a map of where you’ve been,

then the heart is the beginning of your journey and the final destination."

For Hattie Louise and Peri Lennon

To my wife, Veronica, I love you.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Rick Carter: Songwriter, Alchemist, Soothsayer, Cat Herder, Chili Relleno Enthusiast, and Music Historian

Fables and Stories

Big Bad John

1965

Look Away (Selma 1965)

Mama Said

Barbara Ann

Jubilee Jump

The Hat

1968

Aubrey Buns and The Zodiacs

This just in...

Summer of ‘69

Alice Cooper, Egg Salad, and a Filipino Dagger

Misspent Time

The Allman Brothers Band

Sorry If I’m Late

Christmas Homecoming

Mind Your Socks

Play vs. Work

Summer of ‘72

John Prine

Now He’s Gone

Summer of 1975 Hotel House Bands and Motel Merchandising

Summer of 1976

James Brown

They Never Knew

Johnny Shines

Hohner Marine Band - Key of G

Quarter (And The Little Red Blanket)

Summer of 1985

Band Houses, Pay Phones, and Easter Egg Hunts

Top 5 Craziest Band House Moments:

Annual Beach Tour

Unemployed

A Troubadour Holiday

Crime Don’t Pay

WC DOANs

The Flyer

Cover Charge

Tiny Tim

The Diary

Prom Season and The Riverboat Gambler

One Night In Athens(A Roadie’s Lament)

Clarence Gatemouth Brown

The Tip Jar

The Gig

That’s The Night That The Lights Went Out At The Florida-Bama

Midnight at The Oasis with Tom Jones

RC and The MoonPie

Listeners

Turning Point

Loveland

New Brand

Fall on Me (Song For Alex)

Life

Dear Brother

War Paint

Me, Myself, and Him

Look Me Over

Valentine’s Day

Zippo

Kodak

My Dad

Sarge

Grief

66

Route 66

Billy Jean

Six Rusty Strings

My Guitar

One Direction To A Heart

JJ - Man’s Best Friend

JJ’s Last Day

Ride The Wind

Someone Said Your Name

My Brother

Songwriters

67

The Kia

Armageddon at Exit 246

These Days

Looking In The Rearview At The Past Year

Psychedelic Shack

Through All Of My Years (A Sailor’s Lament)

About the Editor

68

Love

Foreword

I met Rick Carter 44 years ago. Immediately, I noticed a faraway sadness in his eyes, juxtaposed with a knowing, yet devilishly mysterious twinkle. That one characteristic sums him up well; he is a man of contrasts. He is a rebel, a hippie, a non-conformist, and yet he is constantly in search of approval. He is ferociously loyal and expects that from others. His sense of humor is rivaled by none.

I will say I have never known a more dedicated, nor driven man. He is in constant motion, almost fearing stillness. His wit is sharp, but his heart is soft. Like all of us, he has faced many difficult times, but he does so head-on, seldom shying away from a challenge or an obstacle. We have weathered many storms together and shared many a triumph. There is no one I would rather have on my team or in my corner. He never gives up, and he inspires me to do the same.

Rick is a born entertainer. He loves his craft and works at it with as much care and dedication as anyone I have ever known. He can control a crowd like a magician, which makes him an invaluable front man for any band. When it comes to music, he is as selfless as they come, always playing whatever role is needed to assure a successful outcome. Many times I have watched him take a back seat to lesser talents in order to allow them to shine.

He is truly at home on a stage, but is happiest and most comfortable talking with people. He loves people and is genuinely interested in them and their stories; there are no strangers in his world. I can call a name and he will tell me where and when he met that person, where they live now, and what they do for a living. He collects their stories and files them away, just as he has done with his own memories over the years.

As a prolific songwriter, Rick has always excelled at creating images; he is quite the wordsmith. I have watched him develop and hone that gift over four decades. It is only natural that his next step, something he has talked about for years, would be a book. He has approached this project with the same daring and drive he applies to life. With each story he turned in to me for editing, I have watched him further develop a style and rhythm that is unique to him. My goal has been to organize, semi-punctuate, and structure his writing without masking or losing his vibrant voice. I have laughed and cried repeatedly, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

If you know Rick personally, you will love this book. If you don’t know him, you will want to know him after reading his book. He is a survivor; a teller of tales; he is quite a character and a good man; he is one of my very favorite humans.

So, prepare yourself. Get ready for a ride. And, keep a box of Kleenex handy.

Lisa Gholson

Rick Carter: Songwriter, Alchemist, Soothsayer, Cat Herder, Chili Relleno Enthusiast, and Music Historian

Starting from the beginning:

My Mother was a great pianist and began teaching me at the tender age of three. I guess being short was the reason it took me so long to understand the expression pedals on the piano; they had a mysterious quality until I could reach them.

My Father was a career Military man, of whom I am very proud. Not everybody gets to play exotic places around the world, while a loving father enhances that experience with, Have a beer, it will loosen you up. But, that’s another story, for another time.

In 1977, when I was 23 years old, Moose Harrell and I started the band Telluride. Telluride became one of the most popular bands to come from the State of Alabama. We worked harder