Mississippi Joe Callicott facts for kids
"Mississippi" Joe Callicott (born October 10, 1899 – died May 1969) was an American blues musician. He was a talented singer and played the guitar. Joe Callicott was known for his unique style of Delta blues, a type of blues music that started in the Mississippi Delta region.
Joe Callicott was born in Nesbit, Mississippi, in the United States. He began his music career early on. In 1929, he played the second guitar on a song called "Cottonfield Blues" with another musician named Garfield Akers. The next year, in 1930, Joe Callicott recorded his own songs, "Fare Thee Well Blues" and "Traveling Mama Blues," for the Brunswick record company.
One of his songs, "Love Me Baby Blues," became very popular. Other musicians later recorded their own versions of it. For example, the famous artist Ry Cooder covered it under the name "France Chance." Later in his life, in 1967, Joe Callicott's music was recorded by a music historian named George Mitchell. These recordings were released on an album in 1969 by Arhoolie Records. Some of his songs were re-released in 2003 by Fat Possum Records.
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A Teacher and Friend
Joe Callicott was not just a musician; he also helped other young artists. He was a mentor to a guitarist named Kenny Brown. Kenny Brown was only ten years old when Joe Callicott started teaching him how to play the guitar. This shows how Joe Callicott shared his musical knowledge with the next generation.
Remembering Joe Callicott
Joe Callicott is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in Nesbit, Mississippi. Many years after he passed away, people wanted to honor his musical legacy. On April 29, 1995, a special memorial headstone was placed on his grave.
This memorial was organized by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund. Kenny Brown, his former student, helped with the arrangements. The money for the headstone came from Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records, and the famous musician John Fogerty. Joe Callicott's first grave marker was a simple paving stone that just said "JOE." His family later gave this original marker to the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi, so others could see it. During the ceremony for the new headstone, the Mt. Zion Fund also gave a check to Joe Callicott's wife, Doll. This money was from the sales of his re-released music.
Music Albums
Joe Callicott's music has been released on several albums over the years.
Studio Albums
- Presenting the Country Blues (Blue Horizon, 1969)
- Mississippi Delta Blues Vol. 2 (Arhoolie, 1969) - This album featured Joe Callicott on one side, and R. L. Burnside and Rosa Lee Hill on the other.
- Deal Gone Down (Revival, 1970)
Compilation Albums
- Ain't A Gonna Lie to You (Fat Possum, 2003)
- North Mississippi Blues (Southland, 2004)
