Charley Booker
Encyclopedia
Charley Booker was a blues
singer and guitar
ist from the Mississippi Delta
, who recorded in the early 1950s for Modern Records.
communities of Moorhead and Sunflower, the son of Lucius Booker. There is some doubt about his date of birth: while the 1925 birth date was given by Booker in interviews, social security records give the earlier date of September 3, 1919.
He learned to play guitar from his uncle, who had played with Charley Patton, and Booker stated that as a child he had himself seen Patton perform near Indianola
.Wardlow, G.D. Komara, E. (Ed.)(1998): Chasin' That Devil Music. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, pp. 73-74 He worked occasionally as a musician from the late 1930s. By the early 1940s Booker had moved to Leland
, and in 1947 he moved to Greenville
, where he worked with pianist
Willie Love
, and also met or worked with musicians such as Elmore James
, Sonny Boy Williamson II
, Little Milton
, Ike Turner
and Houston Boines. By 1951 he had his own radio show (possibly on the WDVM station), and in 1952 he was approached by Ike Turner to record for Modern Records
.
, Turner on piano and Jesse "Cleanhead" Love on drums, with the same band also backing several songs by Boines. Despite the piano being "horribly out of tune", and problems with local law enforcement, the session resulted in two singles released under Booker's name, one on Modern Records and the other on the associated Blues & Rhythm label, as well as releases by Boines. The Blues & Rhythm release, pairing "No Ridin' Blues" with "Rabbit Blues", sold strongly locally but Booker did not record again for Modern, and a session later the same year for Sam Phillips
was unreleased at the time.
and ceased music as a full time occupation. Although he continued to play locally, his only further recording was a live guest appearance with Joe Willie Wilkins
at a 1973 blues festival at Notre Dame in South Bend. He died on September 30, 1989.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist from the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
, who recorded in the early 1950s for Modern Records.
Early life and career
Charley Booker was born in 1925 on a plantation between the MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
communities of Moorhead and Sunflower, the son of Lucius Booker. There is some doubt about his date of birth: while the 1925 birth date was given by Booker in interviews, social security records give the earlier date of September 3, 1919.
He learned to play guitar from his uncle, who had played with Charley Patton, and Booker stated that as a child he had himself seen Patton perform near Indianola
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
.Wardlow, G.D. Komara, E. (Ed.)(1998): Chasin' That Devil Music. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, pp. 73-74 He worked occasionally as a musician from the late 1930s. By the early 1940s Booker had moved to Leland
Leland, Mississippi
Leland is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,790 at the 2008 census.The town is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on the banks of Deer Creek, which is decorated each Christmas season with floats that bring visitors from afar to view the...
, and in 1947 he moved to Greenville
Greenville, Mississippi
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...
, where he worked with pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Willie Love
Willie Love
Willie Love was an American Delta blues pianist. He is best known for his association with, and accompaniment of Sonny Boy Williamson II.-Biography:...
, and also met or worked with musicians such as Elmore James
Elmore James
Elmore James was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader. He was known as "the King of the Slide Guitar" and had a unique guitar style, noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice.-Biography:James was born Elmore Brooks in the old Richland community in...
, Sonny Boy Williamson II
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
, Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
, Ike Turner
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
and Houston Boines. By 1951 he had his own radio show (possibly on the WDVM station), and in 1952 he was approached by Ike Turner to record for Modern Records
Modern Records
Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. In the 1960s, Modern Records went bankrupt and ceased operations, but the catalogue went with the management into what became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to the UK label...
.
Recordings
The recording session was set up by Joe Bihari of Modern Records at the Club Casablanca on Nelson Street, Greenville on January 23, 1952. Booker was backed by Houston Boines on harmonicaHarmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, Turner on piano and Jesse "Cleanhead" Love on drums, with the same band also backing several songs by Boines. Despite the piano being "horribly out of tune", and problems with local law enforcement, the session resulted in two singles released under Booker's name, one on Modern Records and the other on the associated Blues & Rhythm label, as well as releases by Boines. The Blues & Rhythm release, pairing "No Ridin' Blues" with "Rabbit Blues", sold strongly locally but Booker did not record again for Modern, and a session later the same year for Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
was unreleased at the time.
Later life and death
Early the following year he moved to South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
and ceased music as a full time occupation. Although he continued to play locally, his only further recording was a live guest appearance with Joe Willie Wilkins
Joe Willie Wilkins
Joe Willie Wilkins was an American Memphis blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Whilst he influenced contemporaries such as Houston Stackhouse, Robert Nighthawk, David Honeyboy Edwards, and Jimmy Rogers, Wilkins' bigger impact was on up and coming guitarists, including Little Milton, B.B....
at a 1973 blues festival at Notre Dame in South Bend. He died on September 30, 1989.
Discography
- "No Ridin' Blues"/"Rabbit Blues" (Blues & Rhythm 7003)
- "Moonrise Blues"/"Charley's Boogie Woogie" (Modern 878)