Papa Charlie McCoy
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Papa Charlie McCoy | |
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 McCoy with his mandolin | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles McCoy |
| Also known as |
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| Born | May 26, 1909 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | July 26, 1950 (aged 41) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Delta blues |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1930s–1940s |
Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy (May 26, 1909 – July 26, 1950)[1] was an American Delta blues musician and songwriter.
Career[edit]
McCoy was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He was best known by his nickname, Papa Charlie. As a guitarist and mandolin player, he was one of the major blues accompanists of his time.[2] He played in the Mississippi area with his band, the Mississippi Hot Footers. As a slide guitarist, he recorded under the name Tampa Kid,[3] releasing "Keep on Trying". He and his older brother Kansas Joe McCoy performed together in the 1930s and 1940s and recorded as the McCoy Brothers.
McCoy and Bo Carter recorded several sides as the Mississippi Mud Steppers, including two variations of Cow Cow Davenport's "Cow Cow Blues": the first, an instrumental, was released as "The Jackson Stomp", and the second, with lyrics and vocals by McCoy, as "The Lonesome Train, That Took My Girl from Town". They also wrote and recorded "The Vicksburg Stomp" (a version of which was recorded by the mandolinists Mike Compton and David Long in 2006).
McCoy moved to Chicago, where he organized two bands, both with his brother Kansas Joe—Papa Charlie's Boys and the Harlem Hamfats—which performed and recorded in the late 1930s.[1]
McCoy's career was cut short by his service with the United States Army during World War II. In poor health after the war, he never returned to music. He died in Chicago in 1950 from "paralytic brain disease",[4] only a few months after his brother died. Both are buried in the Restvale Cemetery, in Alsip, Illinois.
Several cover versions of McCoy's composition "Too Long" have been released.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Charlie McCoy: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ a b Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 139–140. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 220. ISBN 9780313344244.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The 50s and Earlier". TheDeadRockStarsClub.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
External links[edit]
- "Papa Charlie McCoy". Find a Grave. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
- Charlie McCoy recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- Delta blues musicians
- Country blues musicians
- African-American guitarists
- American blues guitarists
- American male guitarists
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- Musicians from Jackson, Mississippi
- 1909 births
- 1950 deaths
- American blues mandolinists
- 20th-century American guitarists
- Guitarists from Chicago
- Guitarists from Mississippi
- American mandolinists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- Harlem Hamfats members
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- Burials at Restvale Cemetery