Valerie Gail Zakian Carter (February 5, 1953 – March 4, 2017) was an American singer. Biography Carter began her career singing in coffeehouses as a teenager, and eventually became one-third of the country-folk band Howdy Moon. Though they debuted at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, in 1974, their one album is now fairly obscure. It is notable, however, for the Carter-penned song "Cook with Honey", later a hit for Judy Collins, and for the introduction of Carter to Lowell George, who produced the next album. He would be a mentor to her until his death in 1979 and introduced her to Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and many of the artists she would work with throughout her career. Her first solo album, Just a Stone's Throw Away, featured an impressive array of guest artists from the 1970s Southern California music scene including Maurice White, Lowell George, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Deniece Williams. The album was well received and garnered favorable reviews and placed her as the opening act for the Eagles in Europe. Two years later, she released another album Wild Child, and began touring with various artists primarily James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Linda Ronstadt. Carter then released another solo album, The Way It Is, with guest artists including Phoebe Snow, Lyle Lovett, Edwin McCain, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne. Japan released a limited edition of this CD with an additional song by Tom Snow. She followed two years later with EPs Find a River, Vanilla Grits, and a compilation CD Midnight Over Honey River. Other work Carter worked as a backup vocalist for a number of famous recording artists. These included Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Outlaws, and James Taylor. Carter wrote the song "Cook with Honey" which was a hit for Judy Collins on her 1973 album True Stories and Other Dreams. Carter also co-wrote the Jackson Browne track "Love Needs a Heart" that was featured on his 1977 album Running on Empty. She also co-wrote "It is One" and "Niño" on Browne's album Looking East. She worked as a writer for the Brothers Johnson on the track "Deceiver", Earth, Wind & Fire's "Turn It Into Something Good", featured on the band's 1980 album Faces, and Cher's Black Rose band's "Never Should've Started". In 1978, she performed the singing voice of the character Jan Mouse in the