Papa Charlie McCoy

For other people of the same name, see Charles McCoy (disambiguation).

Papa Charlie McCoy
Birth name	Charles McCoy
Also known as	Papa Charlie McCoy, Tampa Kid
Born	May 26, 1909(1909-05-26) Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Died	July 26, 1950(1950-07-26) (aged 41) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Delta blues
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, mandolin
Associated acts	The Mississippi Hot Footers, Bo Carter, Tommy Johnson, Ishman Bracey, The McCoy Brothers, Memphis Minnie

Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy (May 26, 1909 – July 26, 1950)^[1] was an African American delta blues musician and songwriter.

Career

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, McCoy was best known by the nickname 'Papa Charlie'. He became one of the major blues accompanists of his time.^[2] A guitarist and mandolin player, he played in the Mississippi area with his band, The Mississippi Hot Footers.

McCoy recorded several sides with Bo Carter as the 'Mississippi Mud Steppers'. Among the tracks recorded with Carter were two variations of Cow Cow Davenport's "Cow Cow Blues" . The first, an instrumental, was released as "The Jackson Stomp". 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" which was resurrected and recorded by Mike Compton, of O Brother, Where Art Thou? fame.

His nimble, sensitive guitar work enriched recordings from performers including Tommy Johnson and Ishman Bracey.^[1] He also recorded regularly in the late 1920s, often alongside Walter Vincson; he also sat in with the Mississippi Sheiks, Rubin Lacy, Son Spand and the many other Delta bluesmen who passed through the Jackson area in the years that followed.^[1] He also backed his then sister-in-law, Memphis Minnie in the mid 1930s.^[1]

As a slide guitarist, McCoy recorded as under the name of Tampa Kid, and released "Keep On Trying".

McCoy also joined and performed with his brother (Kansas Joe McCoy) for many years, and they released records under the title of "The McCoy Brothers".

He eventually migrated to Chicago where he organized two bands, "Papa Charlie's Boys" and with his older brother Kansas Joe McCoy, the Harlem Hamfats, that performed and recorded during the second half of the 1930s.^[1] However, service with the United States Army during World War II cut short McCoy’s career.

In poor health, McCoy never returned to music after the war, and he died in Chicago, Illinois in 1950 from paralytic brain disease,^[3] only a few months after his brother had died. They are both buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

McCoy's composition, "Too Long" was recorded several times by both black and white artists.^[2]

See also

• List of Delta blues musicians
• List of people from Mississippi
• List of blues musicians

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Allmusic biography - accessed January 2008
2. ^ ^{a b} Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 139–140. ISBN 1-85868-255-X. 
3. ^ Dead Rock Stars Club - accessed January 2008

External links

• Allmusic biography
• "Papa Charlie McCoy". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10659. Retrieved 2008-01-25. 
• Birthplaces of Mississippi Blues Artists - maps
• McCoy Brothers Tribute website
• Works by or about Papa Charlie McCoy in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

Persondata
Name	Maccoy, Papa Charlie
Alternative names
Short description	African American delta blues musician and songwriter
Date of birth	May 26, 1909
Place of birth	Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Date of death	July 26, 1950
Place of death	Chicago, Illinois, United States