Melissa Carper grew up playing bass and singing in her family’s country band and went on to study upright bass at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She has since studied and played many styles with a focus on and great love of old-time country, Western swing, and bluegrass music.
Austin, TX based band, The Carper Family (Jenn Miori Hodges, Beth Chrisman, Melissa Carper), won Best Country Album ('BackWhen') in 2011 with the Independent Music Awards and again in 2013, by popular vote, they won Best Country Album (Old-Fashioned Gal). They also made an appearance in 2013 on Garrison Keillor’s ‘A Prairie Home Companion. This was Carper's 2nd time on a Prairie Home Companion, the first time being in the year 2000 with the Camptown Ladies (Gina Gallina and Melissa Carper) as finalists in the Talent in Towns Under 2000 competition. Residing back in Arkansas for awhile after Austin,TX, Carper played and still plays often with Sad Daddy, 4 piece bluegrass/jug band (Brian Martin, Joe Sundell, Rebecca Patek, Melissa Carper). Sad Daddy won Best Bluegrass Song in 2018 with the Independent Music Awards and were nominated for Best Americana Album ('Fresh Catch').
Carper has played festivals across the country and in Canada and Norway, including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (w/the Maybelles), Vancouver Folk Festival (Carper Family), Vinstra and Seljord Country Music Festivals (Carper Family), Juneau Folk Festival (Carper Family), Kerrville Folk Festival (Carper Family). Atlin Arts and Music Festival (Carper Family). November of 2020 will be her 2nd time to tour Germany with the Bluegrass Jamboree, first in 2013 with Carper Family and in 2020 with the Buffalo Gals Band.
Now residing in Nashville, TN, Carper plays primarily with the Buffalo Gals Band whose debut album, 'Brand New Old Time Songs', made it to Number 2 on the European Americana charts in 2018. They have a brand new release in 2020, ‘Where the Heart Wants to Go’, that they are very excited to be taking on tour with them, featuring songs written by both Melissa Carper and Rebecca Patek.
Carper debuted her first solo album 'Arkansas Bound' in 2015, a collection of 9 original old-time country songs, one Jimmie Rodgers song, and one Gina Gallina song, with sparse renditions and accompaniment from Rebecca Patek, Joe Sundell and David Jellema. 'With her bass making a dependable rhythmic anchor, Melissa Carper sings like a bird soaring "where the wind blows high above the trees" as Bob Dylan said. . . . "Gamblin' Bar Room Blues" is her brilliant take on Rodger's variation of "St. James Infirmary" . . .When Jellema switches to coronet he and Carper nod to the on-record teaming of Rodgers and Louis Armstrong with the Rodgers-ish "Gettin' Arkansas Plates." Then follows the beautiful "I'll Always Be a Fool for Love", a one-two punch again highlighting Carper as a triple threat; singer, bassist and songwriter.' Rick Allen, Vintage Guitar Magazine
In the process of making a second solo album, Carper this time is recording 12 original Country and Western Swing songs, going for a full band sound backed by Dennis Crouch (bass), Jeff Taylor (piano, organ, accordion), Chris Scruggs (guitars and steel), Matty Meyer (drums), Lloyd Green (steel), Billy Contreras (fiddle), Rebecca Patek (fiddle), plus harmony vocals by Brennen Leigh, Ranger Doug, Noel McKay, Rebecca Patek and Nate Baker. Projected release date, Fall of 2020!
“Melissa Carper has a voice that is old beyond her time, with just the right kind of twangy lisp. She sounds like a 70’s country star transported into the digital age, rhinestones and all!” - Devon Leger, Bluegrass Situation
“A new batch of songs from Melissa Carper is something to smile and rub your hands together about like waiting for permission to cut into an apple pie.” - Kyle Coroneos, Saving Country Music
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