Carpenter, Elliot, 1894-1982.

Elliot James Carpenter was a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and song stylist with a career that spanned much of the twentieth century. Born in Philadelphia, he was educated at the Temple School of Music in that city. In the 1920's he furthered his studies in France, where he also performed with the James Reese Europe Orchestra. A band he formed, known as the Red Devils, toured Europe under the management of the Clef Club Singers and Players.

Carpenter's primary musical style was popular, but he also wrote and performed swing music. Although he wrote a substantial amount of original music, only a modest number of pieces were published. He was a prodigious arranger of music authored by both black and white composers, and also wrote lyrics.

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