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Clyde Edward Carter (Eddie Carter) Former Chuck Wagon Gang Tenor Passes Away

Eddie Carter, the last living son of Dad and Mom Carter, passed away on Monday morning, December 6, 2010 in Texas from complications from pneumonia. He was 91 years old.

He was born Nov. 15, 1919 in Noel, MO, and was the middle child of the Carter siblings. He met his wife, Carrie, in 1940, and recently the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. He retired in 1984 as service manager for Maynard Foods. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebecca Ann (Becky) Stout, and son, David Parker Carter III.

After D. P. “Dad” Carter retired from active participation with the Chuck Wagon Gang in 1955, Eddie became his replacement. In the mid-50’s, the Chuck Wagon Gang headquartered in Knoxville, TN for a couple of years, and were promoted and booked by Rev. and Mrs. J. Bazzel Mull of Knoxville. Prior to this time, all recordings by The Chuck Wagon Gang were recorded in Texas. With the move to Knoxville, the Chuck Wagon Gang began recording all sessions in Nashville.

On October 6, 1956, Eddie recorded his first eight songs with the Gang, along with his sisters Rose and Anna, his brother Roy, and his brother-in-law Howard Gordon, guitarist and husband of Anna. Songs recorded were: I’ll Walk and Talk With My Lord”, “When I Looked Up and He Looked Down”, “Sing On The Way”, “I Know (Yes, I Know)”, “He’s My Lord and King”, “Inside the Gate”, “There’s Gonna Be Singing”, and “I’m Headed for the Promised Land.” While the songs were of the old-time flavor, they were different with the “new” Nashville Sound. They were released as singles to gospel and country music stations, and the songs dominated the airways.

Eddie’s time was short lived with The Gang at this time, but he later returned for some tour dates in the early to mid 70’s, and recorded on all Chuck Wagon Gang Columbia Records sessions from 1971-1975. The 1975 sessions marked an end to a 39-year association with Columbia Records. Eddie, along with his sister, Anna, made their final recordings with The Gang, on February 13, 1978, as “Old Fashioned Singing,” This was a collection of 20 greatest recorded for TV on an independent label, Tame Records.

Eddie made some later special appearances at Grand Ole Gospel, National Quartet Convention in Nashville, and other events. He was on tour again for some special appearances in 1993-4 with Ruth Ellen Carter Yates, Roy Carter, Shaye Smith. He was present for The Chuck Wagon Gang’s induction into the GMA Hall of Fame in Nashville in 1998.

Survivors include his wife, Carie; son, Clyde (Buster) Carter; daughter-in-law, Sheri Carter; son-in-law, Jerry Stout; grandchildren, Eddie III and wife, Vicki, Danny Stout, Jonathan Stout and wife, Ashley, Nicole Carter Hawthorne and husband, Matt, Aaron Carter and Alayne Hollis and Jake Carter; great-grandchildren, Carley, Kelsey, Madison Carter, Merek and Maddox “Peanut” Hawthorne, Evan Stout, Zoey and Parker Carter and Gaige Carter; and sisters, Ruth Ellen Yates and Betty Goodwin

Funeral arrangements: 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 8 at Victory Baptist Church (2910 Layton Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76117 – 817-834-1502). Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 7 at Mount Olivet Funeral Home.