Benny Carter at 95. Michael Pointon talks to the multi-instrumentalist and pioneer jazz arranger and composer Benny Carter , who was born in New York in 1907 and is the sole major figure from the early days of jazz still active today. 1: Carter's career began in 1924 and included spells with major figures on the New York scene, such as Earl Hines , Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. By 1934 he was arranging music for Benny Goodman.