As a youth, Carter lived in Harlem around the corner from Bubber Miley who was Duke Ellington's star trumpeter. Carter was inspired by Miley and bought a trumpet, but when he found he couldn't play like Miley he traded the trumpet in for a saxophone.
Carter began playing professionally at 15. He first recorded in 1928 and formed his first big band the following year. He played with Fletcher Henderson in 1930 and 1931, then briefly led McKinney's Cotton Pickers before returning to lead his own band in 1932. The few recordings his band made between 1933 and 1934 are considered by most jazz scholars to be milestones in early swing arranging. They were sophisticated and very complex arrangements, and a number of them became swing standards which were performed by other bands ("Blue Lou" is a great example of this.) He also arranged for Henderson and Duke Ellington during these years and wrote two hits, "Blues in My Heart" and "When Lights are Low." By the early 1930s he and Johnny Hodges were considered the leading alto players of the day. Carter also quickly became a leading trumpet soloist, having rediscovered the instrument. He recorded extensively on trumpet in the 1930s. Also, in 1933, Carter took part in an amazing series of sessions that featured the British band leader Spike Hughes, who came to New York specifically to organize a series of recordings featuring the best Black musicians available. These 14 sides were only issued in England at that time, though they are available on CD and worthwhile looking for. (The musicians were mainly made up from member of Carter's band and from Luis Russell's.)
In 1935 he moved to Europe, where he became staff arranger for the British Broadcasting Corporation dance orchestra and made several records. He returned to the United States in 1938 and led a big band and sextet before moving to Los Angeles in 1943 to write for movie studios. Carter continued writing and performing into his 90s. He arranged for Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan, among many others.
His biggest hit was "Cow Cow Boogie", a song he co-wrote with Don Raye and Gene DePaul, which was a hit for Ella Mae Morse in 1942.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Carter was one of the first black men to compose music for films. He was an inspiration and a mentor for Quincy Jones when Jones began writing for television and films in the 1960s. Also in the 1940s, Carter's successful legal battles in order to obtain housing in then-exclusive neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area made him a pioneer in an entirely different area.
He also appears uncredited in the 1952 film, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, as a sax player.
Carter was admired for his ability to write saxophone solis, which are sections of music that the entire section plays as one unit in the manner of a solo.
Carter was a member of the music advisory panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was also a member of the Black Film Makers' Hall of Fame and in 1980 received the Golden Score award of the American Society of Music Arrangers. Carter was also a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1996 and received honorary doctorates from Princeton, Harvard, Rutgers, and the New England Conservatory.
He died, aged 95, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles of what is thought to have been bronchitis.
Sleep
Benny Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How we love to sleep
At the close of day
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
Of the day repeat
In our dreams they creep
While we sleep, sleep, sleep
It seems that daytime was just made for laughter and song
Night time brings rest to the weary
Sooths all the hearts that are dreary
Leaves us alone with our day dreams
Brings back sweet golden love dreams while we sleep, sleep, sleep
How we love to sleep
At the close of day
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
Of the day repeat
In our dreams they creep
Benny Carter's song "Sleep" celebrates the restorative power of sleep. The first stanza describes the love people have for sleep after a long day when the joys fade away, but their memories persist. The chorus emphasizes the power of sleep to bring dreams and alleviate worries and sorrows. Nighttime is a respite from the chaos of day, offering rest to the weary and the promise of sweet dreams.
The second stanza details the various moods nighttime brings. Laughter, song, and romance are for daytime, while night is for rest and dreams. These dreams bring back memories of love or allow dreamers to create new ones. Overall, the song depicts sleep as a soothing balm that heals the wounds of the day.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Repetition of the word 'sleep' signifies the importance of sleeping and how desirable it is for humans.
How we love to sleep
Sleeping is loved by everyone as it provides relaxation and a break from the tiring activities of the day.
At the close of day
Sleeping mainly occurs at the end of the day, signaling a fresh start for the next day.
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
As the day comes to an end, the happiness and memories of that day slowly fades away, and it's time to rest and restore energy for the coming days.
Of the day repeat
In our minds, we repeat the sweet memories of the day, reflecting on the events of the day when we sleep.
In our dreams they creep
Those sweet memories of the day still echo in our dreams, and we relive them in our sleep.
It seems that daytime was just made for laughter and song
Daytime is meant for people to have fun, laugh, and sing, but eventually, it comes to an end, and it's time to rest.
Evening brings romance to lovers as they stroll along
Evening time is romantic, and it's a perfect time for lovers to go for a stroll together and enjoy each other's company.
Night time brings rest to the weary
Night time is when everyone is exhausted and needs to rest from the day's tiresome activities.
Sooths all the hearts that are dreary
Sleeping helps heal the sad and exhausted hearts by restoring energy and calming the mind.
Leaves us alone with our day dreams
Sleeping leaves us alone with our thoughts, and we can dream about our desires.
Brings back sweet golden love dreams while we sleep, sleep, sleep
Sleeping brings back sweet dreams of love and gives us a sense of calmness, which is essential to start a new day with a positive frame of mind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stephen Fretwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind