HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Early Blues of Joe & Charlie McCoy

Birth of the Blues: Kansas Joe McCoy

Kansas Joe McCoy

Birth of the Blues: Papa Charlie McCoy

Papa Charlie McCoy

Born on 11 May 1906 in Raymond, Mississippi, Kansas Joe McCoy was older brother by three years to Papa Charlie McCoy born in Jackson, Mississippi, on 26 May 1909. Birth in Mississippi meant that Joe and Charlie were raised to Delta blues. Both brothers played guitar, Charlie mandolin as well. They performed often together, both early and during the last decade of their careers. When and how "Kansas" got added to Joe's name I've not been able to learn. Charlie may have acquired the nickname "Papa" upon becoming an older master among his fellow musicians.

Charlie may have been younger, but he preceded Joe to the recording studio in 1928. Big Road Blues wants Charlie backing Rosie Mae Moore on 3 February with Tommy Johnson and Ishmon Bracey on 'School Girl Blues' and 'Staggering Blues'. Charlie backed Johnson on the same date per 'Cool Drink of Water Blues', 'Big Road Blues', 'Bye Bye Blues' and 'Maggie Campbell Blues'. The next day found him backing Bracey on 'Saturday Blues' and 'Left Alone Blues'. Come August 31 for four more tracks with Bracey like 'Brown Mama Blues' and 'Four Day Blues'.

'Staggering Blues' Charlie McCoy (guitar) backing Rosie Mae Moore

3 Feb 1928 at the Memphis Auditorium TN Matrix BVE-41830 Victor 21280

Composition: Rosie Mae Moore

Joe made his debut recordings for Columbia on November 2, 1928, as a backup guitarist on four tracks for minstrel singer, Alec Johnson, including 'Miss Meal Cramp Blues', 'Sister Maud Mule' and 'Mysterious Coon' and 'Toodle Doo'. Charlie joined them on those along with Bo Carter. That same month Charlie backed Mary Butler on 'Bungalow Blues', 'Mary Blues', 'Electric Chair Blues' and 'Mad Dog Blues'. It is thought that Butler may have been Rosie Mae (Rose) Moore per McCoy's first recordings above.

'Miss Meal Cramp Blues' Joe McCoy (guitar) backing Alec Johnson

2 Nov 1928 in Atlanta Matrix W147379 Columbia 14446-D

Violin: Bo Carter Mandolin: Charlie McCoy

Composition: Spencer Williams

In February of 1929 Charlie played mandolin with Carter and Walter Vinson as the Jackson Blue Boys on 'Hidin’ On Me' and 'Sweet Alberta'. Discogs has those issued in March. Sometime in 1929 Joe married Memphis Minnie (Lizzie Douglas) in Memphis. I've not been able to uncover a date for that, but they made their initial recordings together for Columbia on 18 June of 1929 in New York City to include 'When the Levee Breaks' / 'That Will Be Alright' and 'Goin' Back to Texas' / 'Frisco Town' as well as other tracks. Further titles ensued during which they moved to Chicago in 1930. They made their final tracks together on 24 August 1934, after which they divorced sometime that year if not 1935.

'I Want That' Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie (guitar)

18 June 1929 in NYC Matrix 148707-2 Columbia 14542-D

Composition: ?

'Your Valves Need Grinding' Charles McCoy

Late Feb 1930 in Memphis TN Matrix MEM-802 Brunswick 7156

Violin: Bo Carter Composition: Charlie McCoy

'I'm Wild About My Stuff' Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie (guitar)

5 June 1930 in Chicago Matrix C-5820-A Vocalion 1570

Composition: Joe McCoy

In the meantime Charlie played mandolin with Bo Carter and Walter Vinson, et al, as the Mississippi Mud Steppers, recording 'Vicksburg Stomp', 'Sunset Waltz' and others on 15 December 1930 in Jackson, Mississippi. Come the Mississippi Blacksnakes formed from the Mississippi Sheiks which documented 'Blue Sky Blues' and 'Grind So Fine' as the Tennessee Shakers in Chicago on 19 January 1931.

'Jackson Stomp' Charlie McCoy (banjo) w the Mississippi Mud Steppers

15 Dec 1930 in Chicago Matrix W404714 Okeh 45504

Guitar: Walter Vinson

Composition: Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport

'Blue Sky Blues' Mississippi Blacksnakes as the Tennessee Shakers

19 Jan 1931 in Chicago Brunswick 7199

Guitar / vocal: Bo Carter Mandolin: Charkie McCoy

Composition: Simpson Lyrics

In 1932 Charlie composed 'Times Ain't What They Used to Be' which he recorded with his brother, Joe, and Tampa Red. Come his composition, 'Too Long', the same year with Thomas A. Dorsey at piano. On 11 September 1934 he joined Peetie Wheatstraw on 'Doin' the Best I Can' in Chicago toward Decca 7007.

'Too Long' Papa Charlie McCoy (mandolin) backed by Thomas A. Dorsey (piano)

4 Feb 1932 in NYC Matrix 11228-A Vocalion 1712

Composition: Charles Davis

'Candy Man Blues' Papa Charlie McCoy (guitar / vocal) as the Mississippi Mudder

13 Aug 1934 in Chicago Matrix C-9291-A Decca 7036

Piano: Chuck Seger Composition: Charlie McCoy

'Too Long' Papa Charlie's Boys

3 April 1936 in Chicago Matrix BS-100317 Bluebird B-6408

Piano: Black Bob ? Composition: Charles Davis

Joe put up titles as Hallelujah Joe for Decca on 9 January 1935, 15 January 1935 and 15 May 1935 [Discogs]. He also issued as Georgia Pine Boy for Champion, then recorded as Bill Wilber in July. He and Charlie then formed the Harlem Hamfats in Chicago, scratching numerous titles from 1936 into 1938 during which period Joe used the pseudonym, Hamfoot Ham.

'Oh! Red' Harlem Hamfats

18 April 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90691-A Decca 7182

Suggested personnel:

Trumpet: Herb Morand Clarinet: Odell Rand Piano: Horace Malcolm

Mandolin: Charlie McCoy Guitar / vocal: Joe McCoy

Upright bass: Andrew Harris Drums: Pearlis Williams

Composition: Joe McCoy

'Weed Smoker's Dream' Harlem Hamfats (Joe McCoy as Hamfoot Ham)

2 Oct 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90691-A Decca 7182

Composition: Joe McCoy / Herb Morand

'Don't Start No Stuff' Harlem Hamfats

20 April 1938 in NYC Matrix 90691-A Decca 7466

Suggested personnel:

Trumpet: Herb Morand Clarinet: Buster Bailey Piano: Horace Malcolm

Mandolin: Charlie McCoy Guitar / vocal: Joe McCoy (Hamfoot Ham)

Upright bass: Ransom Knowling Drums: Fred Flynn or Pearlis Williams

Composition: Clarence Williams / Leroy Carr / William Ronald Calaway

'The Candy Man' Harlem Hamfats backing Rosetta Howard

21 Oct 1938 in NYC Matrix 91553-A Decca 7551

Suggested personnel:

Trumpet: Herb Morand Clarinet: Odell Rand Piano: Horace Malcolm

Mandolin: Charlie McCoy Guitar: Joe McCoy

Upright bass: John Lindsay Drums: Fred Flynn

Composition: Herb Morand

In 1940 Joe and Charlie put together Big Joe and His Washboard Band, recording numerous titles in Chicago from December that year ('I Love You Baby', 'I'm Through with You', et al) to as late as January 1942 ('Got to Go Blues', 'I'll Get You Off My Mind', et al). Joe and Charlie next formed Big Joe and His Rhythm, issuing titles on Bluebird in 1942 and 1945.

'I'm Through With You' Big Joe and His Washboard Band

17 Dec 1940 in Chicago Matrix C-3505-1 Okeh 06175

Harmonica: Robert Nighthawk (Robert Lee McCoy)

Guitar / vocal: Joe McCoy Washboard / vocal: Amanda Sortier

Bass: Ransom Knowling

Composition: Joe McCoy Lyrics

'Come Over and See Me' Big Joe and His Rhythm

30 Jan 1940 in Chicago Matrix BS-074001 Bluebird B-9013

Mandolin: Charlie McCoy Guitar: Joe McCoy

Washboard: Washboard Sam (Robert Brown)

Bass: Ransom Knowling Vocal: Harmon Ray

Composition: Harmon Ray

'I'm All Right Now' Big Joe and His Rhythm

15 Dec 1944 in Chicago Bluebird 34-0723 [Valery Pisigin]

Mandolin: Charlie McCoy Guitar / vocal: Joe McCoy Alto sax: Edgar Sancier

Piano: Little Brother Montgomery Bass: Ransom Knowling

Composition: Joe McCoy

Joe had volunteered for the Army during World War II, but was unable to serve due to a heart condition. Papa Charlie, however, upped and served. Joe died young of heart disease and stroke at age 44 in Chicago on January 28, 1950. Charlie followed only half a year later on July 26, but forty years of age, having contracted neurosyphilis to die of paralytic brain disease.

Sources & References for the Harlem Hamfats:

Donald Clarke Last.fm Wikipedia

Audio: Internet Archive

Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS

Recordings: Compilations: Music Brainz (1936-39)

Recordings: Sessions: DAHR (1936-38)

Repertoire:

Weed Smoker's Dream (aka Why Don't You Do Right / Joe McCoy w Herb Morand / 1936):

Chris Gilde Wikipedia

Authority Search: VIAF

Sources & References for Kansas Joe McCoy:

All About the Blues Jason Ankeny (All Music) McCoy Brothers Tribute