It’s probably safe to say that when Kim Carper arrived at UNC Charlotte in 1997, she was among just a handful of young college students enamored with jazz. Although the rich and celebrated musical art form has been around since the early 20th century, it’s not exactly the music of choice among 18-year-old students.

Nonetheless, Carper, who grew up singing in school and church choirs in her native Wilmington, couldn’t imagine doing anything else. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education, then a master’s of music in vocal performance at UNC Greensboro.

“After I graduated, a friend told me all I needed to do was learn 40 songs and I could start playing live gigs,” says Carper, 28.

She did just that, and for years has been performing around the Charlotte and Lake Norman areas, and last year released her first CD, Quarter ’Til Three. You can catch her at pssghetti’s in Huntersville throughout July.

One of Carper’s first gigs was at LaVecchias at the Lake. She admits that she was so nervous she spent most of her time hiding behind the music stand. But as her confidence grew, her smooth and sultry voice earned her invitations to perform at several prestigious festivals, including the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, and at several upscale Charlotte restaurants and hotels. In 2003 she decided to start her own band, and while auditioning musicians, she met Donnie Marshall, a well-known Charlotte drummer. They hit it off both musically and romantically, and married a short time later. In addition to performing together, the couple, who live at Mountain Island Lake, also teach vocal and music lessons.

“I really enjoy it,” says Carper of being married to her band mate and co-worker. “Being a musician, you have to work a lot of hours just to make it, so if we weren’t both in the business it’d be really tough – we’d never see each other.”

The couple also worked together on Quarter ’Til Three, on which Marshall played drums and also produced. The CD also features fellow musicians Van Sachs on guitar, Tim Gordon on tenor saxophone, Tim Smith on bass and Mark Stallings on keyboards.

Quarter ’Til Three reflects Carper’s musical evolution, as she lends her warm, lush vocals to songs by such varied artists as Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Sade, Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones.

Looking down the road, Carper says she and Marshall hope to release a Christmas album this year. But first, they have another special project in the works. The couple is expecting their first child in November. But Carper says their new bundle of joy won’t stop her musical career. “The plan is to take a typical maternity leave and be back to playing gigs by New Year’s Eve.”

Carper is scheduled to perform at pssghetti’s July 5, 19 and 26. For more information about Carper, visit www.kimberlycarper.com.

Friday, June 29
Irish Cue – Amy Broome Band
J.B. Frog’s – Skintonz
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Northcross Lanes – Part Time Blues Band
North Harbor Club – Southern Silk Duo
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Mac Live
Brazas – Rock ’n’ Roll Noel

Saturday, June 30
Irish Cue – Rude Mood
J.B. Frog’s – Gigi and the Big Love
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Ten O’Clock Charlies – From a Seed
Tiki Bar, Queen’s Landing – Part Times Blues Band
Uncle MILF’s – Andrew Schlessler
Brazas – Steel Drum Band

Sunday, July 1
Moe’s Ale House – Tsunami Wave Riders, 4-8 p.m.
North Harbor Club – Captain Lou
Rusty Rudder – Drew Skinner, 5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 3
Comedy Zone – CeeJay, Ian Gutoskie, 8 p.m.
Galway Hooker – Chris Faggan
North Harbor Club – Scott Johnson
Rusty Rudder – Pop Roxx

Wednesday, July 4
Irish Cue – Gabe and Friends
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Moe’s Ale House – Southern Style, 8 p.m.-midnight
North Harbor Club – Caribbean Steel Drum Band
Rusty Rudder – Simplified, 3-7 p.m.

Thursday, July 5
Galway Hooker – Jason Marcum
J.B. Frog’s – Tin Can Alley
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
pssghetti’s – Kim Carper
Rusty Rudder – Smilin’ Dogs
Brazas – Steve Shook

Friday, July 6
Irish Cue – Mark T. Evans Project
J.B. Frog’s – Thunder Brothers
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Northcross Lanes – Rum Punch Bandits
North Harbor Club – Southern Silk Duo
Rusty Rudder – Jes Seda, 5-8 p.m.; The Logic, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Mac Live
Brazas – Rock ’n’ Roll Noel

Saturday, July 7
Irish Cue – Jubal Kane
J.B. Frog’s – Deck 51
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Rusty Rudder – Rayen Belchere, 5-8 p.m.;
Hope Massive, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Ducks Brothers
Uncle MILF’s – Jason Marcum
Brazas – Kingpins

Sunday, July 8
Moe’s Ale House – Tsunami Wave Riders, 4-8 p.m.
North Harbor Club – Captain Lou
Rusty Rudder – Carey Simms & Andy Seets, 5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 10
Comedy Zone – James Sibley, Joe Tyler, 8 p.m.
Galway Hooker – Chris Faggan
North Harbor Club – Scott Johnson
Rusty Rudder – Wild Men from Borneo

Wednesday, July 11
Irish Cue – Gabe and Friends
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
North Harbor Club – Caribbean Steel Drum Band

Thursday, July 12
Galway Hooker – Jason Marcum
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Rusty Rudder – Robin Burke Duo
Brazas – Steve Shook

Friday, July 13
Irish Cue – The Soulution
J.B. Frog’s – Leavers
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Northcross Lanes – Robin Rogers
North Harbor Club – Southern Silk Duo
Rusty Rudder – Carey Simms & Andy Seets. 5-8 p.m.;
Below the Belt, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Mac Live
Brazas – King Bees

Saturday, July 14
Irish Cue – The Von Eriks, Duk Tan
J.B. Frog’s – Skintonz
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Rusty Rudder – Rayen Belchere, 5-9 p.m.;
The Newz, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Freestyle
Uncle MILF’s – Rock ’n’ Roll Noel
Brazas – Kingpins

Sunday, July 15
North Harbor Club – Captain Lou
Rusty Rudder – Roy Daye Jr.

Tuesday, July 17
Comedy Zone – Mutzie, Ray Devito, 8 p.m.
Galway Hooker – Chris Faggan
North Harbor Club – Scott Johnson
Rusty Rudder – Hot Sauce

Wednesday, July 18
Irish Cue – Gabe and Friends
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
North Harbor Club – Caribbean Steel Drum Band

Thursday, July 19
Galway Hooker – Jason Marcum
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
pssghetti’s – Kim Carper
Rusty Rudder – R.B. Stone
Brazas – Steve Shook

Friday, July 20
Irish Cue – Visions of Cody
J.B. Frog’s – Common Ground
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Northcross Lanes – Contagious
North Harbor Club – Southern Silk Duo
Rusty Rudder – Drew Skinner, 5-8 p.m.;
Simplified, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Mac Live
Brazas – Rock ’n’ Roll Noel

Saturday, July 21
Galway Hooker – Kenny Floyd
Irish Cue – Mike Hagger Band
J.B. Frog’s – Tin Can Alley
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Rusty Rudder – Rayen Belchere, 5-8 p.m.;
Smilin’ Dogs, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Phor Play
Uncle MILF’s – Skintonz

Sunday, July 22
North Harbor Club – Captain Lou
Rusty Rudder – Below the Belt, 5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 24
Comedy Zone – Monte Allen, Ray Pennetti, 8 p.m.
Galway Hooker – Chris Faggan
North Harbor Club – Scott Johnson
Rusty Rudder – The Newz

Wednesday, July 25
Irish Cue – Gabe and Friends
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
North Harbor Club – Caribbean Steel Drum Band

Thursday, July 26
Galway Hooker – Jason Marcum
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
pssghetti’s – Kim Carper
Rusty Rudder – Rayen Belchere, 5-8 p.m.
Brazas – Steve Shook

Friday, July 27
Irish Cue – Duk Tan
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Northcross Lanes – The Newz
North Harbor Club – Southern Silk Duo
Rusty Rudder – Jes Seda, 5-8 p.m.;
Cookie, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Mac Live
Brazas – Rock ’n’ Roll Noel

Saturday, July 28
Galway Hooker – Spencer Rush
Irish Cue – Half Brother Sid
J.B. Frog’s – Phor Play
Jokers – Matt Black, Keith Montross
Mia Famiglia – Kent Steel
Rusty Rudder – Rayen Belchere, 5-8 p.m.;
Robin Burke Band, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Ten O’Clock Charlies – Common Ground
Uncle MILF’s – Steve Shook

Sunday, July 29
North Harbor Club – Captain Lou
Rusty Rudder – Carey Simms & Andy Seets,
5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 31
Comedy Zone – Al Ernst, Eric Hunter, 8 p.m.
Galway Hooker – Chris Faggan
North Harbor Club – Scott Johnson
Rusty Rudder – Below the Belt

To Submit Listings
Entertainment to be considered for Norman Nights should reach us two months in advance. We realize that not all plans are firm two months ahead, and we will try to consider and work into the August calendar those items that reach us by July 6. Please include your name and a contact phone number or e-mail address and send to Norman Nights, Lake Norman Magazine, 400-B North Harbor Place, Davidson, NC 28036, e-mail LNMag@lakenormanmagazine.com and put “Norman Nights” in the subject line or fax to 704-896-0661.