New York based keyboardist Clifford Carter’s career has spanned over 40 years. He has performed and recorded with Idina Menzel, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Art Garfunkel, Narada Michael Walden, Herbie Mann, Patti Scialfa, Chris Botti, The Four Tops, Idris Muhammed, Bryan Ferry, saxophonist Bill Evans, and many others.
As musical director, keyboardist, and arranger for Idina Menzel, Carter has performed on international tours, TV shows, and is featured on the 2018 release Idina : Live. Carter has had a long term musical relationship with singer songwriter James Taylor, performing on numerous recordings and tours, including Hourglass, which won a Grammy for Best Pop Album of the year. Carter’s original songs have been recorded by The Four Tops, Michael Franks, Bill Evans, Vanessa Williams, Phyliss Hyman, and others. Carter’s solo release Walkin’ Into the Sun, is a jazz/pop hybrid, featuring Carter’s vocal and instrumental songs with a top supporting cast of musicians including Steve Rodby, Will Lee, Mark Egan, Bob Sheppard, Luis Conte and producer-guitarist Tim Weston.
He has accompanied a variety of artists on television programs including The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, Regis and Kathy Lee, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View, VH1’s Storytellers, and Live By Request. Among these artists are Al Green, Jewel, Christina Aguilera, Justin Bieber, the Black Crowes, Smokey Robinson, the B-52’s, Rufus Wainwright, the Temptations, Little Richard, BB King, Lyle Lovett, Cher, LeAnn Rimes, Vanessa Williams, Michael McDonald and countless others.
His keyboard work has contributed to many film scores including You’ve Got Mail, A Chorus Line, The Object of My Affection, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and the remake of Shaft.
Carter has played at star-studded music events such as the reopening of the Apollo Theater (Motown at the Apollo), the Kennedy Center Honors with tributes to artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Chuck Berry, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sting’s Rainforest Benefit in New York City, and Oprah Winfrey’s A Bridge To Now celebration honoring 25 legendary African-American women.
Carter owns Secret Road Studios, a versatile production environment, where he plays, writes, arranges and produces. He has been playing Yamaha keyboards throughout his professional career.