Jimmy Carpenter began playing sax professionally in 1979 in hometown Greensboro, NC, with The Alka Phonics, a raw R&B and Blues band that toured the East Coast relentlessly until 1988. In early '88 He relocated to Charlottesville, VA to work with The Believers, an original Blues/Rock band. Over the next 8 years The Believers released 3 recordings, and played well over 1000 shows, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic. For most of the band's history, Jimmy booked, promoted and managed the band, and served as executive producer for the recordings, securing financing, art production, distribution and promotion.
In 1995 he decided to give the road a break and opened a booking and promotions company called Stone Balloon Entertainment. After serving nearly 3 years chained to a desk and telephone, one fateful afternoon in 1998 he got a call from an old friend, guitarist Tinsley Ellis, offering a road gig for a year. After considering this opportunity for about 30 seconds, he closed the agency and hit the road.
In 1999 he joined Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers, with whom he recorded 4 CDs and toured internationally as horn player and road manager, until late 2004. In February of 2004 he moved to New Orleans, and left Thackery in December of 2004, to pursue opportunities in The Crescent City. He began freelancing in New Orleans, playing Bourbon Street and whatever came along.
Literally a week before Katrina, after sitting in with The Roadmasters at a festival in Maryland, Walter offered him the travel dates, and in the aftermath of the storm he became a full-time Roadmaster, playing all shows, writing horn arrangements and recording, and in general hanging on by his fingernails. "This is an amazing opportunity for a horn player: leading a section in a band that features horns, writing arrangements and recording them, hearing it all live...in a world where horns have taken a back seat, this is a thrill, a challenge, and a kick in the ass."