John Carter left his hometown of Birmingham for London in the early sixties with school-friend and writing partner Ken Lewis. They signed a songwriter deal with Peer Music (formerly Southern Music) in Denmark Street. While writing they also did many broadcasts for the BBC (“Easy Beat”, "Saturday Club" etc.), when they formed Carter-Lewis and the Southerners. The group included at various times Jimmy Paige and Viv Prince. Their first hit as writers was “Will I What?” by Mike Sarne, followed by “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” by Herman’s Hermits, which went to No. 1 in the USA.
In the mid-Sixties John and Ken concentrated on providing vocal backing for other artists, and appeared on hits such as “Can’t Explain” (The Who), “It’s Not Unusual” (Tom Jones), “Out Of Time” (Chris Farlowe). This led them to form their second group, The Ivy League, with the addition of Perry Ford. They had three major hits in the UK with “Funny How Love Can Be”, “Tossing and Turning” and “That’s Why I’m Crying”. This led to extensive touring for a year and a half, and then John decided to leave in order to concentrate on writing and recording.
In the mid-Sixties John and Ken concentrated on providing vocal backing for other artists, and appeared on hits such as “Can’t Explain” (The Who), “It’s Not Unusual” (Tom Jones), “Out Of Time” (Chris Farlowe). This led them to form their second group, The Ivy League, with the addition of Perry Ford. They had three major hits in the UK with “Funny How Love Can Be”, “Tossing and Turning” and “That’s Why I’m Crying”. This led to extensive touring for a year and a half, and then John decided to leave in order to concentrate on writing and recording.
In 1967 John and Ken got back together again and wrote and recorded "Let's Go To San Francisco" which was a big hit in UK and Europe. John met up with writer Geoff Stephens, who asked him to demo a song Geoff had written, called “Winchester Cathedral”. John then sang the lead vocal on the finished record, which reached No.1 on the American charts. About the same time, a joint composition by John and Ken Lewis, “Little Bit O’ Soul”, recorded by the Music Explosion, also went to No.1 in the States. John and Geoff Stephens continued writing together, with hits such as “Semi-detached Suburban Mr James” for Manfred Mann, “My Sentimental Friend” and “Sunshine Girl” for Herman’s Hermits, and “Knock, Knock, Who’s There?” for Mary Hopkin.
After Ken retired from the Ivy League and the music business in general, John started writing songs with Gill, his wife. This resulted in a big hit in Europe by Kincade called “Dreams Are Ten A Penny”. John and Gill also wrote “Beach Baby” by First Class (produced by John), which went Top 5 in the States.
After Ken retired from the Ivy League and the music business in general, John started writing songs with Gill, his wife. This resulted in a big hit in Europe by Kincade called “Dreams Are Ten A Penny”. John and Gill also wrote “Beach Baby” by First Class (produced by John), which went Top 5 in the States.
When Hamzter was formed, John and Sal had the great idea of reviving "Let Go To San Francisco" in a Jazz style. They've made a video using the new version. Check it out below.
Salomao de Paula Hamzem is a 52-year-old accomplished musician, songwriter, and producer born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. From an early age, he was deeply inspired by his father and family members, all of whom are musicians, which ignited his passion for music and laid the foundation for his artistic journey.
He studied French Horn at the prestigious Palácio das Artes in Belo Horizonte, a renowned cultural institution, and performed with the Fundação Clóvis Salgado Orchestra, gaining valuable experience in classical and orchestral music. Over the years, Salomao has expanded his musical expertise by learning and playing a variety of instruments, enriching his understanding of diverse musical genres and styles.
His musical influences are wide-ranging, including Bossa Nova, Samba, Rock, Frevo, Reggae, and more, reflecting the vibrant cultural tapestry of Brazil. During this period, Salomao also studied Classical Guitar for two years and led gospel bands for many years, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to musical expression. He has toured extensively across Brazil and internationally, sharing Brazilian music and showcasing his talent to audiences worldwide.
In the late 90's, following the passing of his father, Salomao made a significant life decision to pursue a career in administration. This shift was driven by a desire to adapt and explore new pathways, leading him to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite this career change, his passion for music remained strong.
He studied French Horn at the prestigious Palácio das Artes in Belo Horizonte, a renowned cultural institution, and performed with the Fundação Clóvis Salgado Orchestra, gaining valuable experience in classical and orchestral music. Over the years, Salomao has expanded his musical expertise by learning and playing a variety of instruments, enriching his understanding of diverse musical genres and styles.
His musical influences are wide-ranging, including Bossa Nova, Samba, Rock, Frevo, Reggae, and more, reflecting the vibrant cultural tapestry of Brazil. During this period, Salomao also studied Classical Guitar for two years and led gospel bands for many years, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to musical expression. He has toured extensively across Brazil and internationally, sharing Brazilian music and showcasing his talent to audiences worldwide.
In the late 90's, following the passing of his father, Salomao made a significant life decision to pursue a career in administration. This shift was driven by a desire to adapt and explore new pathways, leading him to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite this career change, his passion for music remained strong.
In 2006, he moved from Brazil to England with his wife, settling in London. He joined a gospel band at Kensington Temple and continued to develop his craft. Relocating to London, he reconnected with his musical roots and sought to deepen his knowledge of music technology. He studied English and music technology formally at Richmond Adult Community College (RACC), where he met John Carter, a talented English songwriter with numerous hit songs. Their friendship blossomed through shared musical interests, and they began collaborating on writing and producing songs.
Today, Salomao combines his extensive performance experience, technical skills, and life journey to create a unique and influential presence in the contemporary music scene. He and John Carter have recorded many albums and numerous singles, both collaborating and producing for other artists in their own studio, establishing themselves as dynamic contributors to the music industry.
Today, Salomao combines his extensive performance experience, technical skills, and life journey to create a unique and influential presence in the contemporary music scene. He and John Carter have recorded many albums and numerous singles, both collaborating and producing for other artists in their own studio, establishing themselves as dynamic contributors to the music industry.
© 2026 - John Carter Enterprises Ltd