The Carter Brothers

Blues/soul vocalist Roman Carter jump-started his longstanding career as a founding member of the Carter Brothers, an electric blues trio from the mid-'60s who recorded for the Cincinnati-based Jewel Records. Carter's throaty, impassioned vocals straddled the border between blues and soul, and effectively propelled one of the Carter Brothers' singles, "Southern Country Boy," to number 21 on the national R&B charts in 1965. Two years later, however, Roman's bandmate brothers were drafted, and the vocalist embarked on a solo career that would later win him the title of Best Male Blues Vocalist at the fifth annual Real Blues Awards in 1999. Carter returned in 2007 with Never Slow Down, a collection of slickly modernized Delta blues material helmed by producer Tom Rothrock (whose work on James Blunt's Back to Bedlam three years prior had resulted in the worldwide hit "You're Beautiful"). ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide - Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide

On our way upstairs, we passed comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Mr. Dolemite) posing for photos and signing autographs in the lobby. You never know who you're going to run into at the Stomp! Upstairs the Carter Brothers were holding forth. I didn't even know these guys we're still around and it turns out that they have been in southern California the whole time. I'd had copies of "Southern Country Boy" on Jewel forever and I used to sing "Booze In The Bottle" back 25 years ago, both of which they performed that night. I always loved these sides, so it was cool to be able to catch them in their matching pimp suits and hats, sounding good as ever. Two out of three were there that night; the piano playing brother I think has gone on though. Unfortunately, the young upstart on second guitar playing Stevie Ray licks was about twice as loud as Albert was on his guitar, so it sort of screwed up the sound. They closed with "Roast Possum and Candied Yams." Sounds delicious! - Mark Hummel for PonderosaStomp.com

Legendary blues, gospel and R&B vocalist Roman Carter and artist, producer, film composer Tom Rothrock have completed a unique studio collaboration: a recording project titled, 'Roman Carter 'Never Slow Down'. The full length CD release is due out on the recently relaunched independent Bong Load Custom Records label. In addition, the tracks have been made available for digital pre-release through iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, EMusic and Amazon.

Roman Carter, part of the original R&B incendiary electric blues trio known as The Carter Brothers, has been singing passionately for over 50 years. That group, originally hailing from Garland, Alabama, had a #21 Billboard R&B hit in 1965.

On this new release, Carter is the featured vocalist and co-composer. 'Never Slow Down' marks a fine return to form as his first new solo vocal effort in well over three decades. Once presumed MIA or KIA after joining the military (due to falsified reports created by a disreputable record label), Carter is alive and well, residing near Los Angeles, refining his distinctive craft of fiery, gospel-tinged vocal delivery every week at church services.

A high octane duet featuring Carter and rootsy folksinger Johnny Irion will be the lead off radio single titled, 'Just A Little Too Fast'. Other very special guests include: vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson, guitarist Smokey Hormel, drummer Joey Waronker, drummer Cedric Burnside, Pete Thomas, Slo-Mo Brenner, MC Random and harmonica ace Jimmy Wood. A video for 'Just A Little Too Fast' is also due to be released.

Featured together, Carter and Rothrock interviews are slated in upcoming issues of both No Depression and Living Blues music magazines. BluesCritic.com describes 'Never Slow Down' as, "... an eclectic, modernized Contemporary Blues outing showing Carter has plenty gas left in the tank." and continues, "The opening 'It's All Rite' combines a Delta Blues guitar hook, loping drums and Fred Wesley-style horn fills with Carter's throaty shout. It's a true butt wiggler that fans of late R.L. Burnside should go wild for."

More reviews of 'Never Slow Down' will run in music publications Blues Matters! (UK), In The Basement (UK), Real Blues (Canada), ABS Magazine (France) and Blues Revue (US).

Tom Rothrock is a seminal music producer (James Blunt, R.L. Burnside, Beck, Elliott Smith, Badly Drawn Boy, Richard Thompson, The Yonder Mountain String Band, Foo Fighters, The Toadies, Sloan, Elbow, Marie Digby) and also film soundtrack composer. His collaboration with Roman Carter follows the release of his own instrumental CD titled 'Resonator', also out on Bong Load. Rothrock's film and television credits include: Collateral, About A Boy, Good Will Hunting, Spy Game, SpongeBob Squarepants Movie and The Sopranos Original Soundtrack. - Jazz News