Kiki Carter (born Kimberli Wilson; November 21, 1957 in

Gainesville, Florida Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, Alachua County, Florida, and the largest city in North Central Florida, with a population of 141,085 in 2020. It is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida, Gaine ...

) is an environmental activist, organizer, musician, songwriter, and columnist.

Personal life

In May 1984, Carter married first husband Rick Carter. She had only known him for one month when they eloped to Las Vegas. Together, they had a son, Richard, in 1986. In February 1998, Carter married singer/songwriter, Greg Webb, the lead singer of the Gainesville, Florida based Rhythm and Blues Revue, changing her name to Kiki Webb. They began collaborating musically and formed the acoustic duo, ''Dancing Light.'' The name dancing Light came from a song of the same title, written about a vision Carter (then Kimberli Wilson) had after a near-death experience. Carter and Webb moved to his family's property on Leech Lake in northern Minnesota in 2000.

Musical career

As a

euphonium The euphonium is a medium-sized, 3 or 4-valve, often compensating, conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument that derives its name from the Ancient Greek word ''euphōnos'', meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced" ( ''eu'' means "well" ...

student at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

Carter won the

Sigma Alpha Iota Sigma Alpha Iota () is a women's music fraternity. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its m ...

"Outstanding Freshman Musician Award" for the 1974-75 year. Throughout her college years, Carter performed in various ensembles, symphonic bands and wind ensembles as principal/solo euphoniumist. In the summer of 1976, Carter traveled to Ruston Louisiana to study with euphonium soloist, Raymond Young, then head of the Department of Music at Louisiana Tech University. In 1979, University of Florida Music Department Chairman Budd Udell included a euphonium solo written for Carter in ''Forces One'', the first movement of his ''Symphony for Band''. The Symphony was premiered at the Music Educators National Conference convention in Miami Beach on April 9, 1980 with Carter performing the solo. The same year, Carter was one of eight national finalists in the Tubist Universal Brotherhood Association's national collegiate solo contest for euphonium. Carter graduated from the University of Florida in March 1981 and briefly did post-baccalaureate work as a theater major, before leaving to audition for euphonium jobs in Washington D.C. military service bands.DeYoung, Bill: "Kiki Carter Comes Home to Sing", page 7. Scene Magazine, ''The Gainesville Sun'', February 22, 1985 She started studying with Brian Bowman, euphonium soloist of the United States Air Force Band in

Washington DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

. During her studies in DC, Carter worked as a governess for

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

publisher,

Donald E. Graham Donald Edward Graham (born April 22, 1945) is the majority owner and chairman of Graham Holdings Company. He was formerly the publisher of ''The Washington Post'' (1979–2000) and later was the lead independent director of Facebook's board of di ...

and his wife, Mary. While in Washington DC, Carter began playing guitar and writing songs. She became disillusioned with the prospect of a professional military band career and returned to Gainesville in February 1982. Through a mutual friend, Carter met Michele Marino, who began managing Carter's career. Marino booked Carter's first television appearances a solo performer on The Kim Edstrom Show. Carter started playing in area clubs, often accompanied by pianist and singer, Sidney Bertisch. In 1984, Carter and Marino travelled to Los Angeles, California, where Carter won the weekly music contest at the Palomino Club in

North Hollywood North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...

The contest brought her to the attention of Capitol Records VP Joe McFadden who gave her his business card and suggested she contact him. Through manager, Michele, Carter came to the attention of Robert L. "Bumps" Blackwell, songwriter, record producer, and manager of

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...

. Bumps arranged for Carter to sing with a group appearing in a 1983 Los Angeles television show with

Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during which he ba ...

Robert Blackwell Robert Alexander "Bumps" Blackwell (May 23, 1918 – March 9, 1985) was an American bandleader, songwriter, arranger, and record producer, best known for his work overseeing the early hits of Little Richard, as well as grooming Ray Char ...

managed Carter until his death in March 1985. During those years, Carter made several trips from Gainesville to Nashville to meet with Capitol Records. Before a deal was struck,

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

experienced a major restructuring and her contacts had been replaced. She and her husband, Greg Webb, later began touring Minnesota, as the acoustic duo, Dancing Light. As Dancing Light, they released their first full-length CD, ''Meadowdance'' in 1993. Carter and Webb co-founded independent record label Sunblossom Records, and she is founder of music publishing company Shebreana Music (BMI) They started Saturday Cafe Concert Series, a weekly Concert series in Northern Minnesota. They continued to perform at benefit concerts.

Activism

At the end of 1986, Carter's mother, author Patti Greenwood learned of the US Department of Energy's plans to build a demonstration irradiation facility in Gainesville, Florida. Greenwood shared the news with Carter. In early 1987, Carter called the local television station, ABC affiliate WCJB-TV to alert them to plans by the

United States Department of Energy The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees U.S. national energy policy and manages the research and development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons in the United Stat ...

and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to build a

food irradiation Food irradiation is the process of exposing food and food packaging to ionizing radiation, such as from gamma rays, x-rays, or electron beams. Food irradiation improves food safety and extends product shelf life (preservation) by effectively ...

facility in Gainesville, Florida, using radioactive

caesium-137 Caesium-137 (), cesium-137 (US), or radiocaesium, is a radioactive isotope of caesium that is formed as one of the more common fission products by the nuclear fission of uranium-235 and other fissionable isotopes in nuclear reactors and nucl ...

. This project was part of the United States Department of Energy's By-Products Utilization Program (BUP). The BUP was born out of a Congressional mandate to find uses for by-products of

plutonium Plutonium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, and forms a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibi ...

production. Carter was invited to appear live in the studio with the WCJB anchors. Soon a grassroots movement was galvanizing with Carter and her mother at the epicenter. Carter and her mother founded the organization Citizens Against a Radioactive Environment (C.A.R.E.) to oppose the use of

Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-rel ...

stores of radioactive

in a demonstration food irradiation facility. The

was slated to be used at six different demonstration irradiators through the country, one of which was proposed for

. After a groundswell of public opposition, public debates, and public forums, the

was never used in the facility. Carter organized a state-wide coalition of concerned citizens called the Florida Coalition to Stop Food Irradiation in response to plans for another irradiator in Plant City, FL. and national TV and helping to organize fledgling groups in other communities. Working as an environmental activist expanded Carter's awareness of other environmental and social justice issues. She helped wherever she could, appearing at public meetings and performing at benefit concerts. She became active in helping to raise awareness of

radon Radon is a chemical element with the symbol Rn and atomic number 86. It is a radioactive, colourless, odourless, tasteless noble gas. It occurs naturally in minute quantities as an intermediate step in the normal radioactive decay chains through ...

issues in Alachua County and helped provide free test kits to residents. Her pet projects included the I.C.E.S. fruition project, where she organized plantings of fruit trees in

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity is a Ch ...

homesites, and promoting the use of reusable bags in grocery stores. Carter was an independent candidate in 1988 for the Alachua County Commission, losing to wildlife artist Kate Barnes. In 1992, Carter wrote a weekly column for the Marion/Alachua edition of the ''

Tampa Tribune ''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area. The newspaper also published a ''St. Pe ...

'' called Environmentally Speaking. Carter often used her musical talents and connections to organize and participate in fundraising concerts for her environmental causes, including a 1996 concert at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts featuring world-renowned violinist

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (born January 10, 1961) is an Italian and American classical violinist and teacher. Early life and education Salerno-Sonnenberg was born in Rome, Italy. Her father left when she was three months old. She emigrated with ...

and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. Carter also composed songs and produced regional television commercials for the

United Way United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit fundraising affiliates. United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public, prior to 2016. United Way organizations raise funds ...

. She became active in the Leech Lake Head Start program on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation where she chaired the parent committee of her son's Head Start program and was elected to chair the policy council of the Leech Lake Head Start program. In the fall of 2005 Carter and her husband helped organize the Great Gala for the Gulf, a benefit concert for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, held at the

Moondance Jam Moondance Jam is an annual rock and classic rock festival held in mid-July in the Leech Lake/ Chippewa National Forest Area near Walker, Minnesota. It is recognized as Minnesota's largest rock festival and a major classic rock festival in the Unit ...

site in Northern

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. raising over $5,000 for relief to survivors.Boblett, Paul: "Great Northwoods Gala for the Gulf raises over $5,000", section A, page 1. ''Northland Press'', October 18, 2005 Carter is currently a vocal proponent of the campaign to establish a United States Department of Peace.

References

Sources

Feature articles about Kiki Carter

*DeYoung, Bill: "Kiki Carter Comes Home to Sing", page 7. Scene Magazine, ''The Gainesville Sun'', February 22, 1985 *Galen Moses: "Carter: performer and persuasive crusader", ''

The Gainesville Sun ''The Gainesville Sun'' () is a newspaper published daily in Gainesville, Florida, United States, covering the North-Central portion of the state. The paper is published by Lynni Henderson, the paper's Executive Editor is Douglas Ray and the edi ...

'', page 1, August 10, 1987 *Barber, John: "Glowing Concerns", ''Eating Well'', pages 37–43. Eating Well: The Magazine of Food & Health, February 1992 *Joyce Slaton: "Little Steps To Big Solutions", ''Moon Magazine'', December 92/January 93

Articles mention or quote Kiki Carter

*"More money is asked for education, fighting crime," Merrily Helgeson, ''

'', April 4, 1987 *"Gainesville residents protest plan to irradiate food," Andrea Blaugrund, ''

'', April 7, 1987 *"Irradiation and information," Editorial, ''

'', April 8, 1987 *"Food for thought," by-line missing, ''

The Independent Florida Alligator ''The Independent Florida Alligator'' is the daily student newspaper of the University of Florida. ''The Alligator'' is one of the largest student-run newspapers in the United States, with a daily circulation of 35,000 and readership of more tha ...

'', April 9, 1987 *"A fight is unfolding over plans for an irradiator," Galen Moses, ''

'', April 11, 1987 *"Irradiation: Debate Rages after 30 years," Galen Moses, ''

'', April 19, 1987 *"Gainesville Irradiation Plant Opposed," Thornton Hartley, ''

Florida Times-Union ''The Florida Times-Union'' is a daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the ''Florida Union'' in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when th ...

'', April 19, 1987 *"Irradiation facility agreement expected to be signed soon," Galen Moses, ''

'', April 23, 1987 *"Plant worries Gainesville Residents," Associated Press, ''

Florida Today ''Florida Today'' is the major daily newspaper serving Brevard County, Florida. Al Neuharth of the Gannett corporation started the paper in 1966, and some of the things he did with this newspaper presaged what he would later do at USA Today. I ...

'', April 25, 1987 *"Irradiation facility foes march at proposed site," Galen Moses, ''

'', May 7, 1987 *"Marchers protest plans for food irradiation plant," Thornton Hartley, ''

'', May 7, 1987 *"While you were gone: glowing protest," Alligator staff report, ''

'', May 12, 1987 *"County to seek halt to irradiator," Sara Hamilton, ''

'', May 13, 1987 *"Irradiation plant may be delayed," Susan Lewis, ''

'', May 14, 1987 *"Irradiator debate intensifies," Colin Whitworth,''

'', May 27, 1987 *"Musicians line up for benefit," Scene Magazine,

'', May 29, 1987 *"Irradiation Plant to be debated," Galen Moses, ''

'', June 2, 1987 (front page headline) *"Citizens argue against irradiation plant," Galen Moses, ''

'', June 4, 1987 *"Irradiation facility debate draws overflow crowd," Susan Lewis, ''

'', June 4, 1987, Vol 80 Number 159 *"Irradiation debated in Gainesville," Thornton Hartley, ''

'', June 5, 1987 *"Irradiation debate makes few converts," Galen Moses, ''

'', June 6, 1987 *"Funding for irradiator's planning OK'd" Galen Moses, ''

'', June 26, 1987 *"Record is clear on history of irradited food," Pete Packett, ''The Tallahassee Democrat'', June 29, 1987 *"Radiating with controversy," Warren Epstein, ''

The Tampa Tribune ''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area. The newspaper also published a ''St. Pe ...

'', July 3, 1987 *"Panel wants more extensive study on irradiation plant," Sara Hamilton, ''

'', July 9, 1987 *"Brown Bag talk to concentrate on irradiation plant," Mike Mason, ''

'', September 9, 1987 *"Brown Bag guest to warn against irradiation plant," Alissa Algarin, ''

'', September 15, 1987 *"Activist speaks out against irradiation," Dorothy Lerman, ''

'', September 17, 1987 *"Group seeks law to halt irradiation: Signatures could put issue on ballot," Barbara Beyer, ''

'', September 25, 1987 *"Campaign against food irradiation launched," Galen Moses, ''

'', September 26, 1987 *"Signs point way to pure produce," Mary Murphy, ''

'', October 12, 1987 *"State wants assessment on irradiation plant," Galen Moses, ''

'', October 15, 1987 *"Group wants food with irradiated contents taken off store shelves," Jim Sams, ''

'', December 19, 1987 *"Cesium-137 won't be used in irradiator," Galen Moses, ''

'', January 14, 1988 (headline) *"Irradiation change relieves some fears: New treatment is safer for aquifer," John Lester, ''

'', January 15, 1987 *"Change in irradiator has many relieved," Andrea Blaugrund,''

'', January 15, 1988 *"A sigh of relief," Editorial, ''

'', January 15, 1988 *"Confusion mounting over radon," Andrea Blaugrund, ''

'', April 9, 1988 *"Will Salerno-Sonnenberg return to Gainesville?" David M. Grundy, ''The Gainesville Sun'', August 7, 1992 *"New Environmental Group Wants to Address All Issues," Lisa Lauer, ''

'', August 24, 1992 *"Risks with Irradiated Foods Outweigh Their Benefits" Kiki Carter, ''The Gainesville Sun,'' op-ed September 6, 1992 *"Kids First! Planting Seeds for Their Future," Unknown author, ''

'', Scene Magazine, September 11, 1992 *"Songs For the Earth," Leigh Glenn, ''

'', September 14, 1992 *"Consultants Mull How To Sell Irradiation To Public," Lillian Guecara-Castro, ''

'', November 19, 1992 *"Tree program sprouts," Gary Kirkland, ''

'', December 18, 1992 *"City, County want help choosing recycling logo," Florida A. Bridgewater, ''

'', January 17, 1995

Articles written by Kiki Carter

*"Family Lives the Environmentalist Life," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', May 9, 1992 *"Greens Take Root in Florida," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', May 16, 1992 *"Expert Finds Some Ways to Save Money on Energy," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', May 23, 1992 *"Retiree is concerned for environment," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', May 30, 1992 *"Researcher giving time to planet he loves," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', June 8, 1992 *"Clay Pipe Along Creek Should be Monitored," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', June 13, 1992 *"Garden Mirrors Man's Philosophy," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', June 20, 1992 *"Poe Springs Popular for Swimming," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', June 27, 1992 *"We are Dependent Creatures," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', July 4, 1992 *"Environmental Activist Launched Idea Exchange," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', July 11, 1992 *"Earth May Have 'Energy Points'," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', July 25, 1992 *"Man Credits Diet With Improving Life," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', August 1, 1992 *"We're Burying Ourselves in Garbage," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', August 8, 1992 *"Alachua Candidates Answer Environmental Questions," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', August 18, 1992 *"Candidates Face Environmental Issues," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', August 22, 1992 *"EPA Suggests Testing for Radon," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', August 29, 1992 *"Scorecard Rates Lawmakers on Environmental Action," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', September 5, 1992 *"Musicians Passionate About Trees," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', September 12, 1992 *"Wildlife Corridor Faces Extinction," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', September 19, 1992 *"Irradiation Fears Go Beyond Food Safety," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', September 27, 1992 *"Photographer Crusades To Preserve Nature," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', October 3, 1992 *"Greens Hold Party to Celebrate Possibilities for Next 500 Years," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', October 10, 1992 *"Compost Benefits States Sandy Soil," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', October 25, 1992 *"Stewards of the Land on the Lookout For Pollution," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', November 8, 1992 *"Solar/electric Chevy truck charges into Gainesville," Kiki Carter, ''The Tampa Tribune'', December 6, 1992

External links

*Kiki Carter: official band website of the band, dancing Light''

*The Gainesville Sun index: catalogued by the Alachua County Librar

*Minnesota Public Radio, Minnewiki, The Minnesota Music Encyclopedi

*Campaign to create a US Department of Peac

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Kiki 1957 births Living people Musicians from Gainesville, Florida American environmentalists American women environmentalists American pacifists Singer-songwriters from Minnesota American women singer-songwriters University of Florida alumni Gainesville High School (Florida) alumni Writers from Gainesville, Florida Singer-songwriters from Florida 21st-century American women