Gaylord Carter
Gaylord Carter (August 3, 1905 – November 20, 2000) was an American organist and the composer of many film scores that were added to silent movies released on video tape or disks.
They met in Europe and were married at Litchfield cathedral in England, eventually spending time in Wiesbaden, where Gaylord was born.
His family soon emigrated to the United States, settling in Wichita, Kansas, where his father opened a conservatory of music and also served as a church organist.
The young Carter displayed the family talent for music and became a soloist in a church choir, until his voice changed.
Impressed by the description of Carter's playing, Lloyd recommended him to Sid Grauman, who offered the 21-year-old $110 a week to be the full-time organist at his downtown Los Angeles movie palace, the Million Dollar Theatre.
The introduction of sound films, and then the onset of the depression, led to a declining demand for theater organists, and by the mid-1930s Carter had launched a career in the booming new medium of radio.
In 1936 Carter became the staff organist for the hugely popular Amos N Andy radio show, a position he maintained until entering the Navy in 1942.
The 18 minute short contained a sequence with singer Connie Boswell performing "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", with Carter providing accompaniment on the Hammond organ.
In 1959 Carter spearheaded a revival of silent movies, beginning at the Rialto Theater in South Pasadena, California with Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro.
He also made recordings on several of these vintage instruments, releasing numerous albums on the Artisan, RCA Victor, Malar, Pelican, New World, Win Mil, Delos and FTC labels.
He made tours of North America, Europe, and Australia, performing on many of the world's surviving theater organs.
Carter began experiencing T.I.A.s (transient ischemic attacks, or mini-strokes) at age 87 in 1992, but recovered sufficiently to continue performing.
His 90th birthday and farewell performance celebration was held with the assistance of his protege Christian Elliott in 1995 at Oakland's Paramount Theatre.
For the next four years he held court in San Pedro, unable to play but ever the witty survivor, still receiving many friends and admirers who basked warmly in his company.
