Mississippi Joe Callicott
Encyclopedia
'Mississippi' Joe Callicott (October 10, 1900 – 1969[latter date is unconfirmed]), was a United States
Delta blues
singer and guitarist
.
Callicott was born in Nesbit
, Mississippi
, United States
. His "Love Me Baby Blues" has been covered
by various artists
, e.g. (under the title of "France Chance") by Ry Cooder
. Arhoolie Records
recorded Callicott commercially in the mid-1960s. Some of his 1967 recordings
(recorded by the music historian, George Mitchell
) were re-released in 2003, on the Fat Possum
record label
. His best known recordings are "Great Long Ways From Home" and "Hoist Your Window and Let Your Curtain Down". Callicott also recorded, as noted by one music journalist, "his lilting "Fare Thee Well Blues.""
He served as a mentor
to the guitarist Kenny Brown when Brown was ten years old.
Joe Callicott is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in Nesbit. On 29 April 1995 a memorial headstone
was placed on his grave arranged by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund
with the help of Kenny Brown and financed by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records and John Fogerty
. Callicott's original marker was a simple paving stone which read simply "Joe". This was subsequently donated by his family to the Delta Blues Museum
in Clarksdale, Mississippi
.
At the ceremony Arhoolie Records presented Callicott's wife Doll with a check for his past royalties.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
singer and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
.
Callicott was born in Nesbit
Nesbit, Mississippi
Nesbit is an unincorporated community in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Nesbit is approximately south of Horn Lake, approximately south of Southaven and approximately north of Hernando near U.S...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His "Love Me Baby Blues" has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by various artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, e.g. (under the title of "France Chance") by Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
. Arhoolie Records
Arhoolie Records
Arhoolie Records is a small record label run by Chris Strachwitz. The label was founded by Strachwitz in 1960 as a way for him to record and publish previously obscure "down home blues" artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin and Bill Gaither...
recorded Callicott commercially in the mid-1960s. Some of his 1967 recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
(recorded by the music historian, George Mitchell
George Mitchell (music historian)
George Mitchell is an American music historian, writer, record producer, and photographer.Born in Coral Gables, Florida in 1944 and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, from the 1960s until the 1980s he has recorded blues musicians such as Jessie Mae Hemphill, Fred McDowell and Johnny Woods, George Henry...
) were re-released in 2003, on the Fat Possum
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. His best known recordings are "Great Long Ways From Home" and "Hoist Your Window and Let Your Curtain Down". Callicott also recorded, as noted by one music journalist, "his lilting "Fare Thee Well Blues.""
He served as a mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
to the guitarist Kenny Brown when Brown was ten years old.
Joe Callicott is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in Nesbit. On 29 April 1995 a memorial headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
was placed on his grave arranged by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund
Mt. Zion Memorial Fund
The Mt. Zion Memorial Fund is a Mississippi non-profit corporation formed in 1989 and named after the 101 year old Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Morgan City, Mississippi...
with the help of Kenny Brown and financed by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records and John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
. Callicott's original marker was a simple paving stone which read simply "Joe". This was subsequently donated by his family to the Delta Blues Museum
Delta Blues Museum
The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale exists to collect, preserve, and provide public access to and awareness of the blues. Along with holdings of significant blues-related memorabilia, the museum also exhibits and collects art portraying the blues tradition, including works by sculptor Floyd...
in Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma County....
.
At the ceremony Arhoolie Records presented Callicott's wife Doll with a check for his past royalties.