Local 706 - The Artisan

26 • THE ARTISAN FALL 2021 In February 1983, I bought a one-way ticket from Frankfurt, Germany, to L.A. At that time, I had no idea I would be pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. I was 24 years old. I'd just le New York with all intentions of living in Europe for an inde- nite period. I hitched myself to my youngest brother, Ian Malcolm Carter, a fellow union member of the costumers, Local 705. At the time, he was working with the hit R&B group, e Commodores. Little did I know how much my life would be aected by those I happened to meet. I was introduced to a lifestyle and people who would become an integral part of my story. Since this was e Commodores European tour, they were performing at some of the biggest music festivals across Europe. e rst of which was MIDEM, Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale. is event takes place at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, the south of France. I was mesmerized by the collection of artists on stage. I was seated in the fourth row from the stage totally absorbed in the performances, which culminated in a grand nale with Melissa Manchester, Jean-Luc Ponty, e Commodores, and Aretha Franklin. I had no idea that of all things, 38 years later, I would be hired to do a limited episodic on Ms. Franklin. Even more ironic, I found a photo that I had taken that evening. Life sure has a way of coming around full circle. I also met Jerey Osborne while walking the streets in the south of France. A few years later, I did make-up and hair on two of his music videos. So many events in my life were foreshadowed by others. rough a scholarship while I was in junior high school, I interviewed the late Mary Wilson of e Supremes. OMG, I was 13 years old, still acclimating to life in this vast city. Years later, while living in L.A., I was hired to do her make-up for a photo shoot. And a few years ago, when I was producing a docudrama on Barbados, she agreed to be interviewed about e Supremes' 1966 performance for Barbados' independence from Great Britain. e Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" was the rst American 45 record I had ever lis- tened to. It was a gi from a cousin who had visited Barbados prior to us arriving in the U.S. It's one of the few things that I brought with me to the States. Let's say, this was a real moment for me. Counterclockwise, from top: Carter-Narcisse with Whoopi Goldberg and Jerry Zucker on the set of Ghost; with Yaya DaCosta on the set of Whitney; Milene Melendez, Marietta Carter-Narcisse and Caroline Monge (make-up team - Genius: Aretha); Jordin Sparks for Ebony magazine; Lynn Whitfield in Eve's Bayou.

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