HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Laughing Charley & Barbecue Bob

Laughing Charley

Laughing Charley (Charles Hicks)

Mug shot probably 1955

Source: American Music

Barbecue Bob

Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks)

Dressed as a cook in publicity photo 1927

Source: Wikipedia

Born in Lithonia, Georgia, on 11 March 1900, Charles Hicks (aka Laughing Charley / Charley Lincoln) was elder brother to Robert Hicks (aka Barbecue Bob) born on 11 September 1902 in Walnut Grove, Georgia. Both Charlie and Robert were taught guitar by the mother of Curley Weaver, Savannah "Dip" Shepard Weaver. Barbecue Bob acquired his name due to working at Tidwell's Barbecue in north Atlanta while playing guitar on the side. He is believed to be the first musician to be recorded by Columbia Records in its new electronic (versus acoustic) recording studio in Atlanta. That included 'Barbecue Blues' gone down on 25 March 1927:

'Barbecue Blues' Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks)

First-known track to issue Flip side of same session: 'Cloudy Sky Blues'

25 March 1927 in Atlanta Matrix 143757-1 Columbia 14205-D 850 copies

Composition: Presumably Robert Hicks

Robert's older brother, Charlie, was also a guitarist who put down his first tracks in Atlanta as Laughing Charley on 4 November 1927 including 'Hard Luck Blues'. On 9 November 1927 Barbecue Bob and Laughing Charley put away parts 1 and 2 of 'It Won't Be Long Now' together.

'Chain Gang Trouble' Laughing Charley (Charlie Hicks)

Second track of first session

4 Nov 1927 in Atlanta Matrix 145108-2 Columbia 14272-D

Composition: ?

'It Won't Be Long Now' Part 1

Barbecue Bob (vocal) w Laughing Charley

9 Nov 1927 in Atlanta Matrix 145192-2 Columbia 14268-D

Composition: Charlie Hicks / Robert Hicks

'It Won't Be Long Now' Part 2

Barbecue Bob (vocal) w Laughing Charley

9 Nov 1927 in Atlanta Matrix 145193-2 Columbia 14268-D

Composition: Charlie Hicks / Robert Hicks

Charlie first recorded as Charley Lincoln on 11 April 1928 to include 'Ugly Papa'. His last recording was with his brother, Robert, on 23 April 1930 for parts 1 and 2 of 'Downtown Gamblin''. Barbecue Bob held further sessions until his last with the Georgia Cotton Pickers on 7 and 8 December 1930 toward such as 'She Looks So Good'. The Georgia Cotton Pickers were a trio filled with Buddy Moss at harmonica and Curley Weaver at guitar.

'Ugly Papa' Charley Lincoln (Charlie Hicks)

11 April 1928 in Atlanta Matrix 146019-1 Columbia 14332-D

Composition: ?

'Red Hot Mama - Papa's Going to Cool You Off' Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks)

17 April 1929 in Atlanta Matrix 148343-2 Columbia 14449-D

Composition: ?

'Yo Yo Blues' Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks)

30 Oct 1929 in Atlanta Matrix 149321-2 Columbia 14479-D

Composition: Robert Hicks

So-called Unnamed Blues (no title) Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks)

3 Nov 1929 in Atlanta Matrix 149347-1 Unissued See Discogs

Composition: ?

'Darktown Gamblin' (The Crap Game)' Part 1

Barbecue Bob (vocal) w Laughing Charley

23 April 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 150374-1 Columbia 14531-D

Composition: ?

'Darktown Gamblin' (The Skin Game)' Part 2

(The curator at YouTube has this titled wrong at the time of this writing)

Barbecue Bob (vocal) w Laughing Charley (Charlie's last recording)

23 April 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 150375-1 Columbia 14531-D

Composition: ?

'I'm On My Way Down Home' Georgia Cotton Pickers

Guitars: Curley Weaver / Robert Hicks (vocal) Harmonica: Buddy Moss

7 Dec 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 151086-2 Columbia 14594-D

Composition: ? Lyrics

'She Looks So Good' Georgia Cotton Pickers

Guitars / vocals: Curley Weaver / Robert Hicks Harmonica: Buddy Moss

8 Dec 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 151105-2 Columbia 14594-D

Composition: ?

'She's Coming Back Some Cold Rainy Day' Georgia Cotton Pickers

Hicks' final recording

Guitars: Curley Weaver / Robert Hicks (vocal) Harmonica: Buddy Moss

8 Dec 1930 in Atlanta Matrix 151106-2 Columbia 14577-D

Composition: Thomas A. Dorsey

Unfortunately, Robert caught the flu and died of a combination of pneumonia and tuberculosis on October 21, 1931, in Lithonia, Georgia, at only age 29. Charlie continued to perform as Charley Lincoln into the fifties until he murdered a man in December 1955 in Cairo, Georgia. Sentenced to twenty years, he died in prison of cerebral hemorrhage on 28 September 1963.

Sources & References for Charlie Hicks (Laughing Charley / Charley Lincoln):

Wikipedia

Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs

Recordings: Compilations:

Charley Lincoln and Willie Baker: Atlanta Blues: 1927-1930 (RST Records BDCD-6027 / 1992)

Music Brainz (w Barbecue Bob)

Recordings: Sessions:

DAHR (1927-30)

Stefan Wirz (American Music / 1927-30)

Rivals: Willie Baker: American Music Discogs Wikipedia

Further Reading: Weenie Campbell (forum)

Other Profiles: Blind Dog Radio Find a Grave