Background
Carr was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Carr was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Although his recording career was cut short by an early death, Carr left behind a large body of work. Some of his most famous songs include "Blues Before Sunrise" (1932), "Midnight Hour Blues" (1932), and "Hurry Down Sunshine" (1934). He had a long-time partnership with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell.
His light bluesy piano combined with Blackwell"s melodic jazz guitar worked to attract a sophisticated black audience.
Carr"s vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles among others Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing used some of Carr"s songs and Basie"s band shows the influence of Carr"s piano style.
His music has been covered by artists such as Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Lonnie Donegan, Long John Baldry, Memphis Slim, Barrelhouse Chuck and Eric Clapton. Carr was an alcoholic and died of nephritis shortly after his thirtieth birthday.