Louis Carter, known professionally as Lou Carter, was an American jazz pianist, composer, and songwriter born on September 15, 1918, in Newark, New Jersey. He passed away on September 25, 2005, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, at the age of 87. Carter was a versatile musician primarily recognized for his work in the jazz genre, where he played the piano and contributed as a composer.

Carter's musical career included playing with prominent big bands, notably those led by Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Gray. In 1946, he co-founded the trio "The Soft Winds" with Herb Ellis and Johnny Frigo. The group gained recognition by recording on the Majestic and Mercury labels and producing hits such as "I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out" and the jazz standard "Detour Ahead," which was performed by legendary artists like Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald.

After "The Soft Winds" disbanded in 1950, Carter continued to work as a sideman and contributed to two of Buck Clayton's studio albums. The trio reunited for the 1995 Floating Jazz Festival, resulting in the release of the double album "Then and Now...: The Soft Winds, 1946–1996," which featured both historical and new recordings.

In addition to his jazz career, Carter was known for his novelty songs, performing under the persona "Louie the Singing Cab Driver." This character was a regular feature on The Perry Como Show during the 1950s. Carter released albums such as "Louie's Love Songs" in 1957 and "Louie Writes Again" in 1958, showcasing his humorous songwriting style.

Carter spent much of his life in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and left behind a legacy of music that spanned several decades and genres.