CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE

Born: January 31, 1944

“I’m keeping it real, For the listener, I hope it’s like a journey, I hope each tune takes’em to another place, and I hope at the end of the journey they’re glad they went.”     
—   Charlie Musselwhite

Charlie was born in the hills of Mississippi. He is of Native American descent. His father played guitar and harmonica, and his mother played the piano. In his teen years in Memphis, he was exposed to artist’s recordings from Elvis Presley to Jerry Lee Lewis, and the musical styles of western swing, rockabilly, electric blues and African American tunes, which ultimately gave birth to rock and roll. He made his living by digging ditches, pouring concrete and runnin’ ‘shine’.

Charlie went to Chicago looking for the big money of the factories. He landed in the South Side where he came to know the likes of Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, Buddy Guy, Howlin Wolf, and Big Walter Horton. He locked down and ‘got his education’ in his passion, his music. He sat in at Mr. Joe’s and played for tips. John Lee Hooker and Charlie would form a life long friendship based on this period and time.

In 1966, Musselwhite and his band released Stand back! Here Comes Charlie Musselwhite. The success of the album gave him the credentials to make a move to San Francisco, California, where he was at the top of the blues scene. He even talked his friend, John Lee Hooker into moving to the Golden Gate city.

The 1970s found him touring and a move to the Arhoolie label, releasing Takin’ My Time and Goin’ Back Down South. The 1980s were not the most musically active but, in 1987 Alligator Records picked him up and it signaled his return to the lime light.

Charlie recorded Continental Drifter with Cuban Quarteto Patria. His last two releases Sanctuary and Delta Hardware were released by Real World Records.

Going strong, Charlie takes his show on the road to cities all over the world. You can check his official Website for a town near you: http://www.charliemusselwhite.com 

Charlie has won 14 W.C. Handy Awards and garnered six Grammy nominations.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to him by the Monterey Blues Festival, and the San Javier Jazz Festival in San Javier, Spain, as well as the Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

At this years Blues Foundation, 2007 Blues Music Awards. Charlie won awards in 4 catagories: Instrumentalist-Harmonica
Song of the Year: Church is Out
Traditional Blues Album of the Year, and
Album of the Year: Delta Hardware.

Way to go Charlie!

Biographical sketch by Suzi Pangborn

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All of the prints are printed on archival paper with archival, pigmented inks.

As I continue to work on the salvaging of my old negatives, and convert them into digital files, I will add them to this site.

Some of the prints can be printed at larger sizes, please call 517-768-1778 if you are interested in a print at a larger size.