Hamilton Hicks Carson

1930 - 2016

Hamilton ("Ham") Hicks Carson

When Ham Carson died on January 14, 2016, Seattle lost a major figure in its traditional jazz scene. For nearly 25 years, the Ham Carson Quartet was a fixture at the New Orleans Restaurant. Before that he was a front man for the Great Excelsior Jazz Band. He was known for his joyous, original interpretations of swing, hot jazz and blues.

Born January 10, 1930, Ham was a graduate of Deerfield Academy and the University of Pennsylvania. Although Jazz was always his passion, he supported his family as a computer programmer, working at RCA, Unisys, the L. A. Times and U. S. West. A man of many interests and skills, Ham lived his life fully. He and his wife restored three Victorian homes, an 1837 family farmhouse and their 1912 Craftsman in Rainier Beach. He participated actively in the anti-war movement and local Democratic politics. Late in life he enjoyed gardening and Lifetime Learning Center's bridge and art classes.

Ham is survived by his sister, Joan Handy, wife Margaret; sons Timothy (Monika) and Tyler Carson, and daughters Vickie and Nell (Ben DeWitt) Carson, and adored grandchildren Ava Carson and Cole DeWitt. He devoutly hoped to be survived also by the Music of the Great American Songbook.

He will be remembered for his sly humor, generous nature, and his tongue-in-cheek plea for tips for the band, "This very night the New Orleans Restaurant offers you this opportunity to express yourselves." A musician's send-off will be held at a later date.