He was born Harold Hodgkiss in Akron, Ohio on October 17, 1919. The son of Frank and Blanche Hodgkiss.
He began playing the fiddle over 46 years ago, having learned the trade from his father, a very well known fiddle player in the Akron area. His first professional job was with a trio in station WJW in Akron.
Harold came to Maine from Ohio as a 15 year old fiddle player with a show called the Kit Carson Show, his first professional show, and he decided to stay here. After being with several bands, he worked his way to Bangor where he settled into playing clubs.
He later joined Curly O’Brien's Show and started his own Barber Shop in Hampden. He later owned and operated the Riverside Grill in Bradley for several years.
He played extensively throughout the United States and Canada with well known names such as the Ken MacKenzie Show, Tony & Juanita, Hal Lone Pine and Betty Cody, Yodelin’ Slim Clark, Gene Hooper, Ray and Ann Little, and of course, was a member of Curley O’Brien’s "Top Hands" for many years.
After working for a short period of time with Bud Bailey and the Down Easters, Harold formed his own band in 1947, the “Riders of Prairie Express”, while in St. Joseph, Missouri.
During his two and a half year career in the U S Army-Air Force, he always found time to entertain.
He appeared on the first live TV Show on WABI in Bangor and also worked on the only live “Country Music Show” originating in Bangor, mainly to be carried coast to coast on network radio. Harold and his wife Judy, lived in Bangor.
He formed a new band “The Country Ramblers” and worked week-end dates in the area.
Harold Hodgkiss Carter passed away suddenly during a performance of the Orange Blossom Special, on Father’s Day, June 21, 1981 in Lewiston, Maine. He was 61 years young at the time.
Fiddlin' Harold Carter was inducted into the Maine Academy of Country Music's Hillbilly Heaven on September 24, 2006.
