An American country musician and founding member of the Carter Family group.

Born in Maces Springs, Virginia, he married Sara Dougherty in June 1915. In 1927, he formed the Carter Family band together with his wife. They were joined by her cousin, Maybelle, who was married to A.P.'s brother, Ezra Carter, and they together formed perhaps the first commercial rural country music group.

Carter was known for travelling extensively throughout the country and collecting and blending songs, particularly from Appalachian and African American musicians. The Carter Family eventually dissolved in the 1940s as a result of Sara having an affair with and marrying A.P.'s cousin and in part due to A.P.'s long absences from home in search of new musical ideas.