Charles Caldwell (bluesman) facts for kids
Charles W. Caldwell (born May 18, 1943 – died September 3, 2003) was an American musician from Mississippi. He was known for playing a powerful style of electric North Mississippi hill country blues.
Who Was Charles Caldwell?
Charles W. Caldwell lived his whole life in the hill country area near Coffeeville, Mississippi. For most of his adult life, he worked at a factory in Grenada, Mississippi. This factory made heating and cooling equipment.
His Musical Journey
Charles Caldwell started playing the blues when he was a teenager. However, he mostly played music for fun at parties and local places called juke joints. These were informal spots where people gathered to listen to music and dance. His music was not recorded for many years.
Recording His Music
In 2002, Charles Caldwell met Matthew Johnson, who ran Fat Possum Records. This meeting changed everything for Caldwell's music. He finally began to record his songs. Most of his recordings featured just his voice and electric guitar. A few songs also included some drums.
During the recording sessions, Charles Caldwell became very ill. But he kept working hard on his music. He passed away in September 2003 when he was 60 years old.
His Only Album
Charles Caldwell's only album was called Remember Me. It was released after he died, on February 24, 2004. The album received good reviews from music critics. People compared his music to other famous blues artists like Junior Kimbrough, John Lee Hooker, and the early Muddy Waters.
