Carter Beauford grew up in a household full of music. Everything from jazz, gospel, to the Beatles was played. And his love for the drums started when he was just three years old.
His father, a jazz trumpet player, was going to a Buddy Rich concert. His dad couldn't find a babysitter, and the only solution was to take Carter to the concert with him. From the moment Carter laid eyes and ears on Buddy, he was enthralled and fascinated with Buddy. After the concert, the young Carter took up drums and wanted to emulate Buddy. He became Carter's idol as a young drummer.
Carter's father was impressed after hearing his son's playing and bought him a Roy Rogers drum kit made with paper heads and tin shells. This was all Carter needed. He was now ready to make drumming a priority. At the age of nine, he played his first professional gig.
During those young years, Carter's major influences were Tony Williams, Papa Joe Jones, and still of course, Buddy Rich.
Throughout his career, Carter has played with many different artists with various musical styles such as Carlos Santana, John Popper, Victor Wooten, and more. Carter feels it is very important to have an open mind musically and to expose yourself to different forms of music.
Carter has released eight studio albums and countless live albums with The Dave Matthews Band, of which is he a founding member.
On many recordings and live performances you will still see and hear Carter's original Solid Black Recording Custom series drums. In recent tours, Carter has been using a PHX series 22”x18” Black Cherry Sunburst bass drum to go along with his legendary Recording Custom tom and floor tom combination.
