Terry Callier

Infobox musical artist
Name = Terry Callier


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = birth date and age|1945|5|24
flagicon|USA Chicago, U.S.
Origin =
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano
Genre = Folk, Jazz, Soul
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, computer programmer
Years_active = 1962-1983, 1990s-00s
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Terry Callier (born 24 May 1945) is an American jazz, soul and folk guitarist singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois.

Biography

Callier, a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, began recording in 1963 but never reached stardom despite a series of regional hits in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1983, he gained custody of his 12-year-old daughter Sundiata and decided to retire from music to look for a steadier income. He took classes in computer programming and landed a job at the University of Chicago in 1984.

He reemerged from obscurity when British DJs discovered his old recordings and began to play his songs in clubs in the late 1980s. Acid Jazz Records head Eddie Piller brought Callier to play clubs in Britain beginning in 1991 and he began to make regular trips to play gigs during his vacation time from work.

In the late 90s Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing the album "Timepeace" in 1998, which won the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace. Curiously, his colleagues at the University of Chicago never learned of Callier's life as a musician, but after the award the news of his secret life became widely known and subsequently led to his firing.Hodgkinson]

Callier today is continuing his recording career having currently released five albums since "Timepeace."

Summer 2008 will see his latest album "Hidden Conversations" featuring Massive Attack released on Mr Bongo records.

Discography

* "The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier" (1964)
* "Occasional Rain" (1972)
* "What Color Is Love" (1973)
* "I Just Can't Help Myself" (1974)
* "Fire On Ice" (1977)
* "Turn You To Love" (1978)
* "TC in DC (recorded live in Washington D.C. 1982)" (1996)
* "Timepeace" (1998) #92 UK
* "Lifetime" (1999) #96 UK
* "Live at Mother Blues (1964)" (2000)
* "Alive With Terry Callier" (2001)
* "Speak Your Peace" (2002) #156 UK
* "Total Recall (remixes)" (2003)
* "Lookin' Out" (2004)
* "Welcome Home (Live)" ( 23.6.2008)
* "Hidden Conversations" (forthcoming 2008)

Compilations

* "The Best Of Terry Callier on Cadet" (1991)
* "Essential - The Very Best Of Terry Callier" (1998) #193 UK
* "First Light" (1998)
* "As We Travel (Harmless Records Compilation)" (2002)
* "Life Lessons (40 Years and Running, Double CD)" (2006)

DVD/video

* "Terry Callier - Live in Berlin" (Universal Music 2005) Prod.: Modzilla Films/Beatrice Tillmann

Appearances

* Vocals on The Juju Orchestra's - What Is Hip (2007)
* Vocals on Massive Attack's "Live With Me" (2006)
* Vocals on Nujabes's "Modal Soul" (2005)
* vocals on Jean-Jacques Milteau's "Blue 3rd" (2003)
* Vocals on 4 Hero's "The Day of the Greys" (2001)
* Vocals on Koop's "Waltz for Koop"
* Vocals on Beth Orton's "Central Reservation" (1999)
* Vocals on Kyoto Jazz Massive's "Deep in Your Mind" (2002)
* Vocals on Grand Tourism's "Les Courants d'Air" (2001)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/terrycallier Terry Callier on MySpace]
* [http://www.mrbongo.com Mr Bongo label website]

References

* Hodgkinson, Will. [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/homeentertainment/story/0,,1327305,00.html Open Secret] . "Guardian Unlimited". October 15 2004. Retrieved April 5 2006
* Ruffin, Mark. [http://jazzusa.com/stories/tcallier.htm Terry Callier, Reluctant Musician] . "JazzUSA 'Zine". Retrieved April 5 2006.
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:twa9qj5bojja~T1 Entry] at Allmusic