Born Oct. 28, 1950
Burlington, VT
Died Oct. 16, 2024
Burlington, VT
Details of service
A celebration of life will be scheduled for June 2025. Please visit Legacy.com to share your memories and condolences.
Jimmy “Oxo” Carter, born Oct. 28, 1950, died Wednesday, Oct. 16 in Burlington, Vermont, where he lived most of his life. He was an extraordinary musician, entertainer, and songwriter. His showmanship was unforgettable to anyone lucky enough to have seen him perform during his 50+ year career in the northeastern U.S. Jimmy poured his creative soul into his three bands—Sass, The Jimmy Carter Show, and Run 21. He lent his prodigious talent as a bass player to Uncle Sam, Lita Ford, Mr. French and many other bands. He mentored young musicians all his career.
Jimmy combined his musical acumen and a keen understanding of what would blow the minds of his audience—building his own disco balls, smoke machines, flash bombs and chasing lights surrounding the stage. He even blew fire to amaze the crowd. Every show was an entertainment adventure, from the off-stage show starter and grand entrance, to the humorous repartee and antics with his bandmates, to the closing rocking crescendo. Satiated, danced-out fans left to the crooning of Frank Sinatra’s “One for the Road.”
Jimmy loved his family and was devoted to his wife Nancy and his sons Jim and Evan. He took care of his family with the same creativity and thoughtfulness that he brought to his music. His parents Jim and Evie Carter, who died in 1993 and 2001, were proud of his many talents, big fans of his music, and often the first to hit the dance floor.
The family wants to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support. We especially appreciate the devotion of his friend since kindergarten, Bob Butterfield. Survivors are Nancy Goulette Carter, the love of his life for 50 years, his two sons Jim (Laurie) and Evan, his grandchildren Avery, Nora, and Vivienne, his siblings, Janet (Ro Horton), Mary, Judith (Bob McIntosh), Jon (Bridget) and David (Tanya), and his in-laws: Ann Pond (Andrew), Kenny Goulette (Missie), David Goulette (Brenda), Kelley Goulette (Alison Prine) and Kerrie Theye (Carlos), and many nieces and nephews.
Jimmy died surrounded by loving family, friends and bandmates, listening to his live version of “Hipshake.” (Search YouTube for “The Jimmy Carter Show Reunion 2013 ‘Bye-bye Song’).
Rock on, Jimmy.
Read the story on VTDigger here: James Ernest Carter.