Ruth Ellsworth Carter, the chef, painter, and songwriter who helped compose hits for Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds with her husband Bill Carter, died on Jan. 4. She was 69.
Bill confirmed the news via Facebook on Thursday.
“Always loved you, always will…47 years of true love and friendship, and so much more…couldn’t have done it without you….thank you my love,” he wrote.
The Carters are best known for penning “Crossfire” and “Willie the Wimp” for Vaughan, as well as the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ 1986 hit “Why Get Up?” In a 2013 feature, Bill told the Chronicle that use of the latter track in a cereal commercial saved the couple, who were at the time starving artists and Xalapeno Charlie’s employees, from homelessness following an eviction.
Later, the couple befriended stars outside the Texas music scene, including sometimes-rocker Johnny Depp. Bill Carter, Gibby Haynes, and Sal Jenco backed the actor in the band P at the 1993 Austin Music Awards, while Ruth is credited as keyboardist on the band’s sole 1995 album.
Outside of music, Carter was known as a chef and artist. She spent years as the “soup chef” at EastSide Cafe and contributed recipes to the restaurant’s cookbook series.
“She and husband Bill were our fabulous runnin’ buddies for a glorious chapter,” songwriter Monte Warden remembered on Facebook Thursday. “SO kind. SOOOO funny. What a contagious laugh!”
In 2013, the Carters were inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame. They then took home the Townes Van Zandt Award for songwriting at the 2020 AMAs. The Chronicle recap of the latter event read:
“[Bill] strapped on a guitar and joined the Mayor’s House Band – Ramos, Charlie Sexton, and Gabe Rhodes, alongside Best Bassist Lolita Lynne, Best Keyboardist Emily Gimble, and Best Drummer J.J. Johnson – for a ripping rendition of the couple’s hit song for Stevie Ray Vaughan, ‘Crossfire.’ Wilson and Best Vocalist Tameca Jones then joined the ensemble for blowout ‘Why Get Up?’”
In 2022, Bill posted a snapshot of his and Ruth’s extensive catalog to Facebook. “Thank you everyone for making the journey exciting, fulfilling and beautiful, and soul satisfying, and A LOT of work of course,” he wrote on behalf of both artists. “Much appreciation and love to all.”
This article appears in January 5 • 2024.
