Joe August (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe August
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Charles Augustus |
| Also known as | Mr. Google Eyes Mr. G |
| Born | September 13, 1931 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Died | August 9, 1992 (aged 60) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, Louisiana blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1945–1992 |
Joe August (born September 13, 1931 – died August 9, 1992) was an American blues and R&B singer and songwriter. He was also known by his cool nicknames, "Mr. Google Eyes" or sometimes "Mr. G". He made music for many years, sharing his unique voice with the world.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Joseph Charles Augustus was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1940, his family moved to the Iberville Projects, a new housing area. Joe August started singing in the choir at the First Emmanuel Baptist Church. He said this is where he learned to sing well.
His mother and grandmother did not want him to become a blues musician. They thought it was not a good path. Joe wanted to play drums, but his family would not buy him an instrument. He said, "The next best thing I had was my voice, so that was my instrument."
His father, Joe August, Sr., wrote a music column called "Here It Is" for a local newspaper. It was published from 1941 to 1943. This column also shared news about sports and the African-American community in New Orleans.
Becoming "Mr. Google Eyes"
When Joe August was a teenager, he worked for a restaurant owner named Dooky Chase. Mr. Chase gave him the nickname "Mr. Google Eyes." This was because of how Joe's eyes would move when he looked at people.
Dooky Chase also supported a local jazz band. Joe August would sometimes sing with this band. Later, he saved enough money to buy his own PA system. This allowed him to perform regularly at the Downbeat Club. He even performed with famous blues singer Roy Brown. Having his own PA system made him very popular because many other bands needed one.
First Recordings and Hits
Joe August made his first recording in 1946 for the Coleman record label. The song was called "Poppa Stoppa's Be-Bop Blues." On this record, he was called "Mr. Google Eyes -- the world's youngest blues singer." This song became a local hit in New Orleans. He then had another hit song called "Rock My Soul." He recorded four songs for Coleman, which was a record company owned by Black people. He was backed by musicians Lee Allen and Paul Gayten.
Moving to Bigger Labels
In 1948, Columbia Records bought his contract. He released a song called "For You My Love" and several other songs with them. Even though his songs were not national hits, he toured with singer Al Hibbler. He also performed at the famous Birdland jazz club in New York City. He shared the stage with jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
Count Basie's wife heard him sing at Birdland. A few days later, Joe August recorded "If You See My Baby" with Count Basie's sextet for RCA Records.
In 1951, Joe August got married and moved to Newark, New Jersey. There, he met Johnny Otis, who worked for Duke and Peacock. Joe August signed with the Duke label. He also wrote the song "Please Forgive Me," which became a hit for Johnny Ace in 1954. Joe August released several songs for Duke, but they were not very successful. In 1955, he moved to Los Angeles with Johnny Otis. He continued to perform in clubs and record for smaller local labels.
Return to New Orleans and Later Years
Joe August returned to New Orleans in 1960. He worked as a nightclub host, or MC, on Bourbon Street. He continued to perform sometimes with other New Orleans musicians like Earl King and Deacon John Moore.
His last known recording was made in 1965 with Allen Toussaint for Instant Records. This song, "Everything Happens At Night," was not released at the time. It later came out in 2012 on a collection of New Orleans R&B music called Mr Joe's Jambalaya & Loaded Down With the Blues.
In the mid-1980s, a Swedish R&B fan named Jonas Bernholm found Joe August in New Orleans. With Joe's permission, Bernholm re-released seventeen of August's recordings from 1949 to 1954. These were put out on a Swedish record label called Route 66. Bernholm made sure to pay Joe August and other artists for their music. In a letter from 1986, Joe August wrote that he was healthy and could perform for two hours without a break, keeping the audience entertained.
Joe August passed away in New Orleans in 1992, at the age of 60. At his jazz funeral, musician Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) spoke about how Joe August had inspired them as children.
