Duane Carter - trumpet/flugelhorn player, composer/arranger, playwright/writer was born in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Los Angeles, California when he was 5 years old and is currently living in Austin, Texas.
He attended Locke High School in South Central Los Angeles. His peers included Patrice Rushen, Gerald Albright, "Ndugu" Leon Chancellor, Gary Bias, and many others who have excelled and are working professionally in music. It was no accident so many excellent musicians sprang up out of Locke High School. The music teachers, Donald Dustin, Frank Harris, and Reggie Andrews created a program geared to the growth of musicianship. They were able to recruit professional jazz musicians working in the L.A. area to come in to provide private lessons and present master classes to the students. Because of this program, Duane was fortunate enough to study with trumpet greats Bobby Bryant, Sr. and Oscar Brashear.
After high school he received a B.A. in Music Performance from California State University, Los Angeles where he studied with studio trumpeter Uan Rasey and theory and composition with Hugh Mullins. He went on to perform in the Army Band from 1981-1991. He toured throughout South and Central America while serving as a principal trumpet player, soloist and arranger with the 79th Army Band, "SouthCOM Ambassadors", stationed in the Republic of Panama. He was also a principal trumpet player, soloist, arranger, jazz combo leader, dance band leader and stage band leader with the prestigious 6th Army Band from the Presidio of San Francisco. While in the Bay Area he also lead his jazz quintet, Quintessence and 9 piece R & B band, Out of Control.
Duane now leads the Duane Carter Band, a contemporary jazz sextet that successfully incorporates Latin, funk, and fusion. The DCB was voted one of the top 10 jazz bands in Austin in 2008. Currently Duane is preparing to record his third CD as a leader; it is due out in early 2010.
