John S. Carter, Jr. (June 14, 1945 – May 10, 2011), better known as simply Carter, was an American music producer, writer, arranger, instrumentalist, and A&R man. Carter was born the son of an oil wildcatter in East St. Louis, Illinois. His music career began in 1967 when he co-wrote "That Acapulco Gold" (a #70 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart) with Tim Gilbert of the Rainy Daze. Also with Gilbert, he co-wrote the lyrics to "Incense and Peppermints," a Billboard #1 hit by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. He died of cancer on May 10, 2011 in Palm Springs, California.