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Artist
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
12+ albums
folkamericanaacousticcountryamerican
about
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer were an American folk duo formed in Portland, Oregon, who released three albums from 1998 to 2001, as well as additional material released after Dave Carter's death in 2002. The duo consisted of Dave Carter (songwriter, vocals, banjo, guitar, organ) and Tracy Grammer, (producer, vocals, violin, mandolin, guitar). Tracy Grammer saw Dave Carter perform three songs at a songwriter's showcase shortly after she moved to Portland, Oregon in 1996. "Here were stories that could stand alone as poetry, sung with compassion, intelligence, and a hint of Texas twang,” Grammer says. “I knew instantly that I was in the presence of greatness; I knew I had received my calling in life.” They met on their way out the door and by late 1997 had entered into a mutual "marriage in music." Their unique strengths and diverse backgrounds came together in powerful synergy. Carter conjured mystical, romantic, true fictions while Grammer complemented his expert guitar, banjo, and voice with beautifully intoned violin, mandolin and emotionally potent vocals. Building on Carter's impressive songwriting wins at Kerrville, Wildflower and Napa Valley, the duo recorded their first album, When I Go, in Grammer's kitchen. The simple, no-frills recording garnered the unknown duo a full-page feature article in the Los Angeles Times, naming Carter "a major lyrical talent" and declaring their self-released album a "discovery of the year." The duo signed to Massachusetts-based label Sig
