Katy musician Will Carter performing Friday at No Label Brewery

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 1/10/22

Katy musician Will Carter is celebrating his 35th birthday this week. He's celebrating by inviting everyone to hear him perform at 7 p.m. Friday at No Label Brewery, 5351 1st St.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Katy musician Will Carter performing Friday at No Label Brewery

Posted

Katy musician Will Carter is celebrating his 35th birthday this week. He's celebrating by inviting everyone to hear him perform at 7 p.m. Friday at No Label Brewery, 5351 1st St.

“It’s a big night for us,” Carter said. “We had a great turnout for our last show.”

Carter’s new album, How Ya Know, is produced through his own label. He’s making his mark in the Texas country music genre. Last year, the Texas Country Music Association nominated him for its Male Artist of the Year honors. He’s received several other nominations as well.

“Bragging rights, if nothing else,” Carter said.

Carter’s music is available from every digital retailer. Yet he said the best way to hear his music is to come to one of his shows.

“That’s the best part of it,” Carter said. “My favorite part of the whole thing is performing and getting to hang out with people. We encourage people to come and hang out with us.”

Carter returns to the Katy area as he can and has performed at the Katy Rice Festival, among other area venues.

“It’s cool to do anything in your hometown,” Carter said.

Carter has strong Katy ties. He’s a Katy High graduate, class of 2005, and played defensive back for the Tigers football team. Gary Joseph, now the team’s head coach, was Carter’s position coach then.

“He was my direct supervisor or drill sergeant or whatever you want to call it,” Carter said. “My dad was 6-foot-4, 250 pounds. I’m the oldest of four, and Dad was convinced that I’d grow big like he was. My mother is 5-foot-3, 90 pounds. I didn’t grow up like Dad expected, but I have good balance and agility.”

Carter began writing songs during his high school days. He said he tends to get his ideas from everyday events, such as visiting the grocery story or seeing a sign somewhere. He gets what he calls an “aha” moment, and makes a note to himself. He later sets a time where he takes those notes, and then develop the story, words, and chords to a song.

“You can’t force it,” Carter said. “Sitting down and forcing it doesn’t work for me. I don’t think you can force creativity.”

While still at Katy, Carter also began performing as an opening act for The Emotions. He said he was their front man for about a year, and he learned how to put on a high-energy show.

From there, it was on to Texas A&M University, where he continued to write and sing when he wasn’t pursuing his education.

“Katy was the most perfect place for what I was walking into at A&M,” Carter said. “The school spirit is like no other at Katy. It’s the same thing at A&M. It’s over the top. It made for a pretty seamless transition.”

While Carter’s passion is his music, it is only a part of his professional portfolio. He owns a commercial construction company and said most of his company’s projects have been in The Woodlands. He’s also made a change in his personal life. He got married last year.

Carter said managing both his careers comes down to having good team.

“I’m surrounded by people who are good at what they do,” Carter said. “I’m very blessed in that regard, that I’ve been able to surround myself with good people.”

Technology is also important, Carter said.

“With a laptop and a phone, you can do pretty much anything you need to do,” Carter said.

Will Carter, No Label Brewery