Music
Regina Carter
born 1966 · jazz violinist
Detroit-born jazz violinist, trained at Cass Tech and Oakland University, who rose with the all-female group Straight Ahead and later won a MacArthur “genius” grant.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 60- Detroit years
- 1966–1991
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Regina Carter was born in Detroit and started violin at four at the Detroit Community Music School. As a teenager she played in the youth division of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Civic Orchestra, and at Cass Technical High School her friend, the singer Carla Cook, introduced her to Ella Fitzgerald. She also played in the pop-funk band Brainstorm. At Oakland University in Rochester she studied jazz under Marvin “Doc” Holladay, and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave opened the doors of Detroit's jazz scene to her, including players such as Lyman Woodard. After graduating in 1985 she taught strings in Detroit's public schools and spent two years in Germany, then came to national attention with the Detroit all-women quintet Straight Ahead in 1987. She moved to New York in 1991 and became one of the leading violinists in jazz.
Highlights
- Early member of Detroit's all-women jazz group Straight Ahead
- First jazz musician to play Paganini's violin “Il Cannone” in Genoa (2001)
- MacArthur Fellowship (2006)
- Doris Duke Artist Award (2018)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · early 1980s
Cass Technical High School
Detroit's selective high school with a renowned music program; the historic building was replaced in 2005.
Studied here · 1970s
Detroit Community Music School
Status being checked
Where her mother enrolled her in violin lessons at age four.
Studied here · early 1980s–1985
Oakland University
She majored in jazz here under Marvin “Doc” Holladay, graduating in 1985.