But when it comes to Jimmy Carter, the popular historical record seems to scratch. Despite the 39th president’s long-standing interest in music and his influence on his career, Carter’s connection with the artists who shaped American culture often goes unnoticed.
“I was not familiar with Carter’s interest in music, and as a documentary filmmaker who studied the history of music from that period, I was shocked that this story existed and was kind of hidden from view at the time,” she says. “His musical favorites say a lot about who he is.”
From gospel sung in local Georgia churches to country music he listened to on his childhood radio and Bob Dylan’s lyrics that set him apart as a politician, “Rock & Roll President” is a virtual soundtrack to Carter’s life story. Below, we highlight 12 songs inspired by the film and what they tell us about Jimmy Carter.
“Whiskey River”, Willie Nelson
Carter has been friends with Willie Nelson for decades and believes he knows everything the artist has ever written. Carter explains in the film that some considered his friendship inappropriate for a president – but director Wharton is an observer who is not surprised by their bond.
“Carter was related to the fact that these artists are tellers of the truth, and I think that’s one of the things that Carter has always been known for,” says Wharton. “He stood up for the truth. He told the United States the truth even when they didn’t want to hear it; even (when it was) for their own political dangers.”
“Maggie’s Farm”, Bob Dylan
Although Wharton was not surprised by Carter’s friendship with Nelson, she was intrigued to learn that Bob Dylan and Carter also have a long friendship, as Dylan is not exactly known for being a social butterfly. But, as with Nelson, Carter found a soul mate in Dylan.
“Carter talked about when he heard the song ‘Maggie’s Farm’ and how – as someone who grew up a farmer’s son, a farmer’s son – it was the first time that he really understood the perspective and situation of the worker; the guy who works at farm, not the farm owner, “says Wharton.
“It’s okay, mom (I’m just bleeding)”, Bob Dylan
“When Carter was running for office, there was a big divide between the established world type and the youth world, (or) the counterculture, and Bob Dylan was a counterculture hero,” says Wharton.
“When Carter quoted Dylan, he was telegraphing to the young voters who listened to the same music as them, and that was big business. The young people at the time were very disappointed with the Vietnam War and Nixon and (then president) Ford, who it was Nixon’s legacy. That was what Carter was competing against, and Carter was too smart to embrace the language of the counterculture. “
“Down by the Riverside”, Mahalia Jackson
Carter’s musical taste is incredibly diverse, ranging from folk rock to soul and jazz. But at the root of everything, the documentary shows, is the gospel.
“The gospel piece in this puzzle was very important,” says Wharton. “It’s the musical genre that we explored first in the film because gospel is the foundation.”
But gospel is also central to Carter’s story because of the influence the genre had on other songs he would learn to love.
“All rock ‘n’ roll goes back to gospel; hip hop goes back to gospel; R&B, it all comes from that,” says Wharton. “I always come back to this idea that each culture in the world has created its own form of music and, generally, that spiritual music is the first type of music that appears in a society.”
“Music is the closest thing that any of us normal people will ever get to touch the divine,” she continues. “You can go to a place that seems to be out of this world, and music can help get you there. That, to me, is a big part of why Carter’s connection to music makes sense, because he was so connected to his spirituality. “
“Amazing Grace”, Willie Nelson
Part of Willie Nelson’s gospel music, Wharton learned, was actually a balm for Carter during an extremely tumultuous turn in his presidency.
“Not even his aides knew about it. If it weren’t for our film, no one would know that there was a musical connection in how he managed to overcome that crisis with such grace and humility and the ability to make difficult choices to make sure that those 52 American hostages they came home alive. His presidency was killed for that, but those Americans came back alive and that was all he cared about. The fact that music was what helped him to overcome that is one of the pillars, I think, what makes this concept of rock ‘n’ roll president stick together. “
“Steps”, Cecil Taylor
In popular culture, Carter tends to be seen as “a little clumsy; a figure of a grandfather with his cardigan sweaters and ‘ah, too bad’ behavior,” says Wharton.
In reality, “he is a fan of some of the most intellectual, heady and supremely modern music on the planet”.
Proof A for the director was his discovery of Carter’s love for jazz musician Cecil Taylor. Wharton had heard of Taylor, but hadn’t really been involved with his music until he worked on the documentary, when he learned that Carter was obsessed with the artist.
“Cecil Taylor was the pioneer of the free jazz movement, so his music is very intellectual and incredibly avant-garde. I was amazed when I started listening to it, ”said Wharton. Although they were unable to trace the footage of a Taylor presentation that fit the documentary, a song like “Steps” speaks to “a level of modernity that I don’t think anyone really expects from Jimmy Carter … when I tell people that I wasn’t really aware of Cecil Taylor’s music until President Carter gave it to me. “
“Salt Peanuts”, Dizzy Gillespie
Other giants of the genre exhibited their art that day, including Dizzy Gillespie, who can be seen playing a version of “Salt Peanuts” in the documentary alongside Carter.
“Carter studied nuclear physics and there is a strong correlation between music theory and mathematics and science,” says Wharton. “When you start looking at these pieces of Carter’s personality, that he was a scientist, but also a humanist – everything indicates his love for jazz.”
“Midnight Rider”, Allman Brothers Band
In Wharton’s opinion, some of the most amazing artists Carter had a relationship with were the members of the Allman Brothers Band.
The Southern Rock group was “known for being rowdy, using drugs and getting into fights,” says Wharton. “Just a totally different kind of thing than any of those other artists.”
“Can’t You See”, Marshall Tucker Band
Wharton also wanted to understand how artists viewed their relationship with the politician.
“When it comes to musicians who have, you know, a lot of people who want to be their friends all the time, why wouldn’t they be suspicious of their motives, or would they feel like they’re using them to get young people’s vote, or something?” Wharton says.
What she learned is that “they could feel that he was genuine and that he wasn’t just talking,” she says. “Composers are always looking for the truth, because that’s what makes good music – when there’s enough truth in it for everyone to identify themselves in some way, it’s when it resonates with a large audience. And the fact that Jimmy Carter is really the personification of truth is a great clue to me as to why those musicians and composers in particular connected with him. “
“God Bless America”, Aretha Franklin
“(They) were two of my favorite artists,” says Carter in the film, “and then, when I got ready to choose the inaugural artists, they were at the top of my list.”
“American Tune”, Paul Simon
“Sometimes things were so ridiculously perfect, you know, like the fact that Paul Simon played ‘American Tune’ at Jimmy Carter’s inaugural show,” adds Wharton. “It was like, ‘what better song could he have chosen?’ It is so appropriate. “
“Coal Miner’s Daughter”, Loretta Lynn
Another priceless scene for Wharton was found in Loretta Lynn’s performance of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” at the White House.
“Loretta Lynn is kind of the daughter of all men in a way, and for her to perform at the White House for the president and a lot of other distinguished guests, it is so wonderful; she is there in all her vibrant glory,” says Wharton with a laugh.
“That, for me, was the real pleasure of putting together the soundtrack, looking at the pieces that are really there. We are not imagining that Carter loves Loretta Lynn; we see him giving her a big kiss at the end of the song, and he invited her to introduce yourself.
“This song is intrinsically a reflection of who he is and how he lives his life, and that is reflected in ways large and small throughout his history. This is what makes it so remarkable for me.”