Doug Carter grew up in Long Beach, California in a musical family.  His parents are both classical violinists, and his grandfather was, along with his brothers, a member of nationally renown tamburitza orchestra, the Crlenica Brothers. Doug's musical journey started at the age of 5, when he began learning the piano.  He ultimately gravitated toward styles of African-American music like Jazz, Soul, and R&B, and has been performing since high school.  He attended CSULB and earned a double major in jazz performance and philosophy. Following graduation with degrees in these two particularly lucrative fields of study, he waited eagerly for his ship to come in.

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He performs regularly around Southern California with the Ryan Rost Trio, Jazz Symposium, the Stonecutters, the Soul Foundation, Belle and the Beast, and his own ensembles.

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He is also an in-demand teacher in Long Beach, and teaches classical and jazz piano lessons out of his home.  Every summer, he co-directs the Jazz Improvisation session at Arrowbear Music Camp.