Valerie Carter (Valerie Gail Zakian Carter, February 5, 1953 – March 3, 201… Read Full Bio ↴Valerie Carter (Valerie Gail Zakian Carter, February 5, 1953 – March 3, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter.

Carter is perhaps best known as a back-up vocalist who has recorded and performed with a number of singers including Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, Christopher Cross and, most notably, James Taylor.

While she may be known for her cover version of The Five Stairsteps' "Ooh Child" featured at the end of the 1979 film Over the Edge, Carter is also a respected songwriter, having written songs for Judy Collins ("Cook with Honey" from Collins' 1973 album True Stories, and Other Dreams), Jackson Browne ("Love Needs a Heart" from his 1977 album Running on Empty) and ("Turn It into Something Good" (from Earth, Wind & Fire's 1980 album Faces) to name but three.

Discography

Solo albums

* Just a Stone's Throw Away — 1977
* Wild Child — 1978
* The Way It Is — 1996
* Find a River — 2000
* Vanilla Grits — 2001
* Midnight Over Honey River — 2004

Selected credits

* Aaron Neville — Warm Your Heart — 1991
* Al Kooper — Championship Wrestling — 1982
* Anna Vissi — Everything I Am — 2001
* Anne Murray — Anne Murray — 1996
* Arnold McCuller — Circa 1990 — 2003
* Aselin Debison — Sweet Is the Melody — 2002
* Christopher Cross — Christopher Cross — 1980
* Diana Ross — Force Behind the Power — 1991
* Don Grusin — 10k-La — 1980
* Don Henley:
o The End of the Innocence — 1989
o Inside Job — 2000
* Eddie Money — Playing for Keeps — 1980
* Eric Carmen — Change of Heart — 1978
* Freebo — End of the Beginning — 1999
* Glenn Frey — Strange Weather — 1992
* Hoyt Axton — Southbound — 1975
* Jackson Browne:
o I'm Alive — 1993
o Looking East — 1996
* James Taylor:
o Gorilla — 1975
o In the Pocket — 1976
o New Moon Shine — 1991
o (LIVE) — 1993
o (Best LIVE) — 1994
o Hourglass — 1997
o Greatest Hits Volume 2 — 2000
* Jimmy Webb:
o Angel Heart — 1982
o Suspending Disbelief — 1993
* Jorge Calderón — City Music — 1975
* Julia Fordham — Swept — 1991
* Julie Miller:
o Orphans & Angels — 1993
o Invisible Girl — 1996
* Keiko Matsui — Sapphire — 1995
* Linda Ronstadt:
o Winter Light — 1994
o Feels Like Home — 1995
o Dedicated To The One I Love — 1996
* Little Feat — The Last Record Album — 1975
* Lyle Lovett — Road to Ensenada — 1996
* Maureen McCormick — When You Get a Little Lonely — 1995
* Neil Diamond:
o Lovescape — 1991
o Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building — 1993
o Christmas Album, Vol. 2 — 1994
o In My Lifetime — 1996
* Nicolette Larson:
o Nicolette — 1978
o All Dressed Up & No Place To Go — 1982
* Randy Newman — Born Again — 1979
* Rick Derringer — Free Ride — 2002
* Ringo Starr — Time Takes Time — 1992
* Shawn Colvin — Fat City — 1992
* Tom Jans — Eyes of an Only Child — 1975
* Vonda Shepard — Songs from Ally McBeal — 1998
* Willie Nelson — Healing Hands of Time — 1994

Carter's official web site: www.valerie-carter.com.

Valerie Carter Lyrics