Over the course of his distinguished career, Ronald Carter held numerous influential positions, including 17 years as jazz band director at Lincoln Senior High School in East St. Louis, IL, and 23 years as Director of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he led the world-renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble. Most recently, he served as the Felton J. Capel Distinguished Professor of Performing and Fine Arts at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.

Carter was a sought-after guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and artist, presenting workshops and performances at universities and institutions across the United States, Canada, and South America. His work included appearances at Michigan State University, Georgia State University, Western Illinois University, University of Northern Colorado, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Northern Illinois University, Hampton University, Loyola University, Coe College, Augustana College, VanderCook College of Music, Georgia State College, and Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. He also directed all-state jazz ensembles in more than 20 states.

As a professional musician, Carter performed on saxophone, clarinet, flute, and vocals. He collaborated with an impressive roster of artists including Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, The Jimmy Dorsey Band, Wallace Roney, The Temptations, The Dells, Oliver Lake, Hamiett Bluiett, Leon Thomas, Art Davis, Fareed Haque, Joseph Bowie, Frank Mantooth, Terell Stafford, Orbert Davis, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker, and many others. He also co-directed the group Infiniti, performed with the George Hudson Orchestra, and maintained an active presence in the St. Louis jazz scene.

Carter’s work extended beyond performance. He was the founder of the South Shore Youth Jazz Ensemble and owner of Carter’s Jazz Clinics LLC. He was an educational consultant, a lead artist for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Band Director Academy, and an international consultant for the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition. As an author, he co-wrote Swingin’ On the Bars (Alfred Publications) and contributed to multiple volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz (GIA Publications).

His many honors include the Conn-Selmer Lifetime Achievement Award, Jazz Institute of Chicago William Dyette Lifetime Achievement Award, Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor, DownBeat magazine’s Jazz Educators Hall of Fame, the Milken National Distinguished Educator Award, and several university teaching awards.

Ronald Carter was widely respected not only for his musical accomplishments but also for his mentorship, leadership, and dedication to jazz education. His influence lives on through the countless students, educators, and musicians whose lives were shaped by his teaching, artistry, and vision.