Papa Charlie McCoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Papa Charlie McCoy
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait of "Papa" Charlie McCoy with his mandolin.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles McCoy |
| Also known as | Papa Charlie McCoy Tampa Kid The Mississippi Mudder |
| Born | May 26, 1909 or 1911 Jackson, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | July 26, 1950 (aged 39 or 41) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Delta blues |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | |
Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy (born in 1909 or 1911 – died in 1950) was an American musician and songwriter. He was known for playing the Delta blues style of music. Papa Charlie was a talented guitarist and mandolin player. He often played with other famous blues musicians of his time.
Contents
About Papa Charlie McCoy
Charles McCoy was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Most people knew him by his nickname, Papa Charlie. He was a very important musician because he played the guitar and the mandolin for many other blues artists. He helped make their songs sound great.
Playing Music in Mississippi
Papa Charlie played music in Mississippi with his own band called the Mississippi Hot Footers. He also played a special kind of slide guitar and recorded songs using the name Tampa Kid. One of his songs as Tampa Kid was "Keep on Trying."
He often performed with his older brother, Kansas Joe McCoy. In the 1930s and 1940s, they recorded music together as the McCoy Brothers.
Papa Charlie also teamed up with another musician named Bo Carter. They recorded several songs as the Mississippi Mud Steppers. Some of their famous songs included "The Jackson Stomp" and "The Lonesome Train, That Took My Girl from Town." They also wrote and recorded "The Vicksburg Stomp."
Moving to Chicago
Later, Papa Charlie moved to Chicago. There, he started two more bands with his brother Kansas Joe. These bands were called Papa Charlie's Boys and the Harlem Hamfats. They performed and recorded music in the late 1930s.
Later Life
Papa Charlie McCoy's music career was put on hold when he joined the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he was not in good health and could not return to playing music.
He passed away in Chicago in 1950. His brother, Kansas Joe, had also passed away just a few months before him. Both brothers are buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
Many other musicians have recorded their own versions of a song Papa Charlie wrote called "Too Long."
See also
- List of blues musicians
- List of Delta blues musicians
- List of people from Mississippi
