Will Carter Music
Will Carter Music
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  • Get To Know Me
    • About Me
    • The Instruments
  • In The Building
  • The Journey
  • More
    • Home
    • Merch Order Form
    • Get To Know Me
      • About Me
      • The Instruments
    • In The Building
    • The Journey
  • Home
  • Merch Order Form
  • Get To Know Me
    • About Me
    • The Instruments
  • In The Building
  • The Journey

About Will Carter Music

My Story

  

I'm just a young upcoming Neo Soul and Smooth Jazz Instrumentalist.  Born June 15, 2009, I have known music all of my life. It seems I'm becoming known and recognized in the Smooth Jazz world, they say I am a young prodigy and affectionately called the Nephew of Smooth Jazz. From what I'm told, at 7 months old I was handed a drumstick and started beating in rhythm on mom’s kitchen floor. I then moved to an adult drum kit at the tender age of 14 months old. While gaining skills on the drums, I would often times play random chords on the piano.  I made the house very noisy, my bad, LOL!!

One day at the age of 7, I asked for a Lead Guitar for Christmas.  I got it, but for some reason, I let it sit for 1 year. During that time, I picked up the alto saxophone to play for the Junior High School band, simply because I was told, “we have enough drummers”. I went on to play in High School, adding the Tenor and Baritone Saxophone. I eventually picked up the guitar and it was like we already knew each other. It just felt extremely natural. During COVID, I took the time to learn all the chords and learned how to take vocals from various Pop and R&B songs and transpose them to the guitar to make a version in Smooth Jazz form.  I also did this with the alto and tenor saxophone. At the age of 12, I got booked for my very first gig, where I had the bright idea to incorporated songs playing lead guitar, bass guitar and alto saxophone all in one set.  I didn't realize that also meant carrying all of those instruments to the gig too!!!

My Experience (not everything is listed)

  • Taste of Joliet – 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Joliet, IL
  • iFest of Bolingbrook - 2023, Bolingbrook, IL
  • Opening Artist for National Smooth Jazz Artist Nathan Mitchell – 2023, Lockport, IL
  • Opening Artist for National Smooth Jazz Artists Dee Lucas & Lin Rountree – 2023, Lockport, IL
  • Opening Artist for event at Chicago City Winery, 2024, Chicago, IL
  • New Year’s Eve Main Entertainment, Leilani’s Asian Fusion Restaurant, 2024, Aurora, IL
  • Opening Artist for National Smooth Jazz Artist JJ Sansaverino feat. Marqueal Jordan, 2025, Lockport, IL
  • Opening Artist for National Smooth Jazz Artist Adam Hawley (Billboard 2025 Artist of the Year)
  • Special Guest Guitarist with J. Grant Experience, Jazz on the Vine 2025, Elkhart, WI
  • Special Appearance for High School Musician Scholarship event, 2025, Bethesda, MD
  • Special Guest for Jam Session (personally invited) for Dee Lucas BDay Bash, 2025, Las Vegas, NV
  • Multiple Appearances Blues Jam Sessions at Tailgater’s Bar & Grill, Bolingbrook, IL
  • Jam sessions with National Smooth Jazz Artists (Eric Darius, Ragan Whiteside, Lemek)
  • Multiple Private Event Bookings, National and Surrounding Area Locations

Other Notable Stuff to Mention

  • Illinois State University Concert Band Festival, Center for Performing Arts with PCHS Wind Ensemble, Normal, IL
  • SuperState Concert Band Festival, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts with PCHS Wind Ensemble, Urbana, IL
  • Guitarist for Indoor Percussion 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school year
  • Section Leader for High School Jazz Band 2025-2026
  • Selected for ILMEA Jazz Guitarist 2025
  • Multiple other school performances and is a part of Wind Ensemble and other Ensembles throughout the school year along with Marching Band.

Copyright © 2026 Will Carter Music - All Rights Reserved.

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