Cousin Joe
The tellin' "How Come My Dog Don't Bark at You No More," off the Gospel-Wailing, Jazz-Playing, Rock N' Rollin' Soul-Shouting, Tap-Dancing Bluesman from New Orleans album released in 1974 on Big Bear Records, epitomizes Cousin Joe's classic piano blues style. Joe's a pioneering blues singer born December 20, 1907 in Wallace, LA, 30 miles from New Orleans. His family moved to New Orleans when Joe was 12; he had a religious upbringing (Baptist) but soon hung around and absorbed himself in the jazz played in clubs. Joe took up guitar and ukulele, and made a living playing on the riverboats in the 30's. By 1941, he'd moved to St. Louis to play in Sidney Bechet's band, before shuffling to New York three years later. This was Joe's most fruitful recording period, he waxed many memorable songs during this era under countless names: Smiling Joe, Pleasant Joe, Brother Joshua, and Cousin Joe. The blues man recorded for a myriad of labels too, including King, Gotham, Philo, Savoy, and Decca. In NY, he worked with stars like Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Earl Bostic, Clark Terry, Lightnin' Hopkins, and others. He returned to New Orleans in 1947 and found employment in the clubs and joints in the '50s and '60s with an occasional European tour thrown in to break the monotony. He spent the '70s in semi-retirement. Joe's first singing gig was at the ripe old age of seven, hustling offerings in church. He would do his little thing and the pastor would ask for another offering for Joe. The gig ended a year later when Joe refused to join the church. As 17-year-old Smiling Joe, he played the fish fries held in peoples' backyards on Saturday nights; they served other food, but call them fish fries because the catfish cake was the most popular dish. He stayed Smiling Joe for 37 years, a woman named him that because he always smiled. At 21, he hustled the streets with two dancers as Hats, Coats, & Greens, Hats & Coats hoofed their tails off while Smiling Joe picked his ukulele; the people went crazy and threw money at their feet. Louis Prima liked the act and wanted to take them to New York, but Joe's mother squashed that. Joe eventually made it to New York and stayed three or four years. He almost landed a gig with the Ink Spots as Deek Watson's replacement, but their manager didn't think he fit the image. He got the name Cousin Joe from Danny Barker who played in Cab Calloway's band. Barker introduced Joe to Clarke Monroe as "Cos" -- short for cousin. Monroe was the only Black to own a club on 52nd St. -- the Spotlight -- the name stuck longer than Smiling Joe. He put his guitar and ukulele down for good in New York and pawned them both; he felt he couldn't compete with the great blues guitarist. Returning to New Orleans he performed steadily until 1973, when he retired to collect his social security checks. Evidently, the Social Security Administration didn't know about his juke gigs and European tours, because Joe kept that activity on the down low and under the table. Prior to B.B. King's crossover success, many regarded Cousin Joe as the greatest blues singer. He died at the ripe old age of 82, on October 2, 1989.
© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo
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Diskografie
14 Album, -en • Geordnet nach Bestseller
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Bad Luck Blues
Blues - Erschienen bei Disques Black & Blue am 10.02.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
From New Orleans
Blues - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 21.06.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhapsody in Bronze
Cousin Joe, James Booker, Snooks Eaglin
Jazz - Erschienen bei 504 am 24.01.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Come Down People: Cousin Joe Live in Concert
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 18.04.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New Orleans Piano Blues
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Crusade am 10.10.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
This Is the Blues! Vol. 10 (Mono Version)
Blues - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Electric Blues - Cousin Joe In Concert
Blues - Erschienen bei Orange Leisure am 26.12.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Blues Masters
Blues - Erschienen bei Burning Fire am 28.04.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Never Harmed An Onion
Jazz - Erschienen bei Night Train International am 11.11.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pleasant Joseph as Cousin Joe 1945-1951 - New York & New Orleans Blues (Blues Collection Historical Recordings)
Blues - Erschienen bei EPM am 04.02.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Blues Masters
Blues - Erschienen bei Brownbeats Records am 01.07.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prodigal Son (Live)
Blues - Erschienen bei Marylebone Records am 24.01.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cousin Joe - Greatest Hits (Best Value Music)
Blues - Erschienen bei Best Value Music am 10.02.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo