Maybelle Carter
1909–1978 (age 69)
Musician
Biography
Maybelle Carter, born in 1909, helped define the sound of American folk and country music as a founding member of the Carter Family, where her innovative guitar playing and heartfelt vocals became the backbone of the group. Her mastery of the autoharp and her warm stage presence endeared her to audiences across the nation.
After the Carter Family era she taught younger musicians, ran family music projects, and preserved Appalachian traditions, leaving a musical legacy that is still celebrated by artists and fans alike.