Roy Anthony Carter (born 1955) is an English musician, songwriter and music producer. He has written or co-written hits for Instant Funk, Central Line, Animal Nightlife, David Grant, and Jermaine Stewart. He has also been a member of groups, Clem Curtis & The Foundations, Heatwave, Central Line and Danny D. & Collusion. In later years he ran a television music production company.
Background Carter was a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations, and along with fellow members David Christopher George, Valentine Pascal, Derek Lewis, and John Lumley-Savile was backing Clem Curtis.Getty Images - English Pop Group Foundations arrived in Sydney to start a month long tour of Australia
Carter was part of the line up of Heatwave that also included Johnnie Wilder, Keith Wilder, Mario Mantese, Rod Temperton, Bilbo Berger and Billy Jones and played on their second album Central Heating. According to Jazz Rock Soul, Carter was with the band until 1979.
Career Clem Curtis & The Foundations By the mid-1970s, Carter was part of Clem Curtis & The Foundations. With Curtis and the other members, Carter went to Australia for a tour in 1975. Unfortunately there were some problems with lead singer Clem Curtis being charged with a supposed assault by the New South Wales police which resulted in Curtis being handcuffed and locked in a cell.Getty Images - English Pop Group Foundations arrived in Sydney to start a month long tour of AustraliaThe Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2017 — "Clem Curtis, original singer with the Foundations"
Along with Valentine Pascal and Georges Delanbanque, Carter co-wrote the song "Amanda" which was the B side of "Make a Wish".Pop Archives - The Inbetweens - Make A Wish Amanda (1971)Caution Googler! Clem Curtis & The Foundations issued a single in 1976 with the A-side/B-side titles Make A Wish/Amanda.Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, MusicCurrent and Renewal Register, July-December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732037 Amanda. The single which was released on Riverdale RR 100 was credited to Clem Curtis & The Foundations Ltd., was reviewed in the 29 May 1976 issue of Record Mirror.Record Mirror, 29 May 1976 - Page 21 Singles The Foundations: Make A Wish' (Riverdale RR 100)Roots Vinyl Guide - Clem Curtis & The Foundations.Soul.Mint.7".Make A Wish.45rpm.1976.Vinyl. Carter also composed a piece of music called "The Foundations Theme".Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, MusicCurrent and Renewal Register, July-December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732040 Foundations theme
Carter, John Savile, Valentine Pascal, Clem Curtis and Georges Delanbanque performed the John Macleod and Dave Meyers composition, "Where Were You When I Needed Your Love" for Eurovision '77.Wayback Machine - songsforeurope.com - A Song For Europe 1976/1977, A Song For Europe 1977, Date: Wednesday 9 March 1977 (Scheduled at 19:30), Title Where Were You When I Needed Your Love It was a favorite to win, but the electricians went on strike and their performance wasn't televised.Inlay notes to Baby Now That I've Found You by Roger Dopson CD, Sequel Records NEECD 300 They did secure a third place with "Where Were You When I Needed Your Love" behind the second placer "What Do You Say To Love" by Mary Mason and "Rock Bottom" by Lynsey de Paul as the winner.Eurovision World - A Song for Europe 1977: The Foundations - "Where were you when I needed your love"Retro 77 - Second Chance Retro 1977 - Guest Jury Hits 1977, Retro 77 OptionS (ESC National Finals) : "Where Were You When I Needed Your Love" was released as a single on Summit SU 100 in March 1977.Record Mirror, 26 March 1977 - Page 12 Singles reviewed by Rosalind Russell, Foundations: 'Where Were You When I Needed Your Love' (Summit SU 100)
Heatwave According to his interview with Anthony Bozzola on 30 July 2013, Carter joined Heatwave in 1977.Just Like a Bozz, 30 July 2013 - Interview with Roy Carter (Heatwave) He replaced Heatwave member Jesse White who was murdered.Black History Month, Saturday 4 December 2021 - Heatwave
He contributed rhythm guitar, bass guitar, Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano to Heatwave's Central Heating album that was released in 1978.Popsike - Central Heating Heatwave Vinyl Records
Central line Carter produced Central Line's single, "Walking into Sunshine" which was released late July / early August 1981.Music & Video Week, 1 August 1981 - Page 2 News in Brief ...
Carter produced the self-titled album for Central Line which was released on Mercury SRM-1-4033 in late 1981. One of the Feature Picks, the album was reviewed by Cash Box in the magazine's 26 December issue. With the reviewer praising London r&b bands, Central Line was called "the true cream of the genre" with "Walking into Sunshine" singled out as a testament to that. Other picks were "Goodbye" and "Shake It Up."Cash Box, 26 December 1981 - Page 27 Feature Picks, Central Line - Mercury SRM-1-4033 That same week it made its debut in the Cash Box Black Contemporary Top 75 Albums. Cash Box, 26 December 1981 - Page 75 Black Contemporary, Top 75 Albums
He produced Central Line's version of "Nature Boy" which spent eight weeks in the UK charts, peaking at no. 21 in January 1983.Genius - Nature BoyOfficial Charts - Central Line, Central Line Songs, Official Singles Chart
On the week of 6 August 1983 his composition "Lovely Day", recorded by Central Line, made its debut at 89 in the Music Week The Next 25 chart.Music Week, 6 August 1983 - Page 10 The Next 25 Spending three weeks in the charts, it peaked at no. 81.
His production, "Time for Some Fun" by Central Line made its debut in the Music Week The Next 25 chart at no. 99 on the week of 26 November 1983.Music Week, 26 November 1983 - Page 17 The Next 25
With Jermaine Stewart, Narada Michael Walden and Jeffrey Cohen, he co-wrote the song "Jody" which made it to no. 9 on the Dance chart in 1986.MusicVF.com - Songs written by Roy Carter
Further activities Carter produced the Hot Cuisine single "Keep That Same Old Feeling" which was released on the Kaleidoscope Records Limited label in 1982.Record Mirror, July 24, 1982 - Page 28 Discos, UK NEWIES, HOT CUISINE: Keep The Same Old Feeling (Kaleidoscope KRL A13-2560) It was a dance hit, peaking at No. 49 on the Record Mirror Disco 45s chart for the week of 14 August.Record Mirror, August 14, 1982 - Page 4, 49 71, KEEP THAT SAME OLD FEELING, Hot Cuisine, Kaleidoscope 12inRecord Mirror, August 21, 1982 - Page 4 DISCO 45s, 59 49 KEEP THAT SAME OLD FEELING, Hot Cuisine, Kaleidoscope 12in
With Pete Wingfield, Carter co-produced the debut, self-titled album for Second Image which was released in 1983.Summer Soulstice - Second Image Also in the same year, Whodini released their self-titled album. Carter produced the tracks "Underground" and "Yours for a Night".Genius - Roy Carter, Popular Roy Carter SongsTime Is Illmatic, 25 May 2021 - Whodini – Whodini (13 October 1983) According to a Rap Reviews article dated 22 September 2020, the attempts that Carter and co-producer Willesden Dodgers made to give snappy percussion and slinky funk to "Yours for a Night" made Whodini sound like a parody of New Edition.Rap Reviews, 22 September 2020 - Whodini :: Whodini by Steve 'Flash' Juon
He co-wrote "Who Took Away the Funk" with Josephine James for Instant Funk. It charted in the US, making it to no. 70 in the Billboard Black singles chart.Billboard, 18 June 1983 - Page 43 Billboard Black Singles
Along with Andy Polaris, Billy Chapman, Flid, Leonardo Chignoli and Paul Waller, he co-wrote "Mr. Solitaire" for Animal Nightlife. Making its debut in the Uk charts on 8 August 1984, it spent thirteen weeks in the charts, peaking at no. 25.Official Charts - Mr. Solitaire by Animal Nightlife The following year he had a hand in composing their song "Preacher Preacher" which spent two weeks in the charts, peaking at no. 67.Official Charts - Preacher Preacher by Animal Nightlife
He produced the single "Blown Away" for the group Darts that was released in late May 1985.Music Week, 25 May 1985 - Page 8
With David Grant he co-wrote the song "Change" which became a hit for Grant in 1987 and spent five weeks in the UK charts from 25 July to 22 August, peaking at no. 55.Official Charts - Change by David Grant
Carter was booked to appear at the Norfolk Motorhome Show 2018, billed as Memories of the Four Tops, Tameeka Jackson and Roy Carter. His old group Clem Curtis & The Foundations was on the same bill.Travelworld Motorhomes and Camper vans - Celebrity Guests and Entertainment at Norfolk Motorhome Show 2018Getty Images - English Pop Group Foundations arrived in Sydney to start a month long tour of Australia However, Clem Curtis had died the previous year.
References
Further reading Champions Music & Entertainment – Roy Carter
External links