For over 30 years, Jason Carter has been a pivotal figure in bluegrass music, best known as the fiddler for the Del McCoury Band and a co-founder of the Travelin’ McCourys. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, on February 1, 1973, Carter began his musical career at age 8 with the guitar, later learning the mandolin, and ultimately taking up the fiddle at 16 after hearing Del McCoury perform.
After graduating from Greenup County High School in 1991, Carter joined The Goins Brothers for a brief six-month stint. A chance encounter with Del McCoury during a Nashville show led to an audition tour and a permanent position with the Del McCoury Band, where he has played ever since. He also joined the Travelin’ McCourys when the group was formed in 2009.
Carter’s talent has earned him numerous accolades, including six International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Fiddle Player of the Year awards (1997, 1998, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2023). His performance of “Kissimmee Kid” from his album Lowdown Hoedown won the IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year.
His extensive collaborations include recordings and performances with artists such as Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dierks Bentley, John Prine, Ricky Skaggs, and Béla Fleck, among others. He has also appeared on major television programs, including The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In addition to his work with the Del McCoury Band, Carter has released two solo albums: On The Move (1997) and Lowdown Hoedown (2022). His contributions to bluegrass were further recognized in 2015 when he was inducted into the Country Music Highway in Greenup County, Kentucky.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.