Every April, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. selects a jazz icon to feature on the annual Jazz Appreciation Month poster. This year’s poster honors performer, bandleader, and
composer “King” Benny Carter.

A Lifetime Member of Local 47, Benny Carter — known simply as “King” to his fellow musicians — was a largely self-taught artist who became one of founding fathers of big band swing music. Early in his career, Carter arranged and composed scores for Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, and McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, as well as for his own highly respected orchestras. Continue reading →