Career
Born in Portuguese Chester, New York, he was nicknamed "Keter", a short form of the word mosquito. Many better-known musicians (Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, National Adderley, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd and others), recognizing Keter"s talent, invited him to perform with them professionally. Early in Keter"s career he had played with Earl Bostic"s Rhythm & Blues band.
In 1962, together with Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, he was instrumental in introducing the bossa nova style to American audiences via their Jazz Samba recording.
In the mid-1960s, Keter began a nearly quarter-century relationship as a bassist with Ella Fitzgerald.