cousin joe

Biography

Pleasant Joseph, known professionally as Cousin Joe, was born on December 20, 1907, in Wallace, Louisiana, about 30 miles from New Orleans. Raised in a Baptist household, he began singing in church at a young age, but his musical path soon led him to the vibrant jazz and blues scene of New Orleans after his family moved there when he was 12. Immersed in the city's musical culture, Cousin Joe learned guitar and ukulele, later mastering piano, and started performing at local parties, fish fries, and on the bustling riverboats of the 1930s.

By the early 1940s, Cousin Joe's career took him north to St. Louis, where he joined the band of legendary clarinetist Sidney Bechet. This collaboration marked the beginning of his most prolific recording period, especially after moving to New York in 1942. There, he worked with jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Mezz Mezzrow, and recorded under various names including Smiling Joe and Brother Joshua. His 1940s recordings, particularly the King Jazz sessions with Bechet and Mezzrow, are considered classics of the New Orleans blues and jazz tradition.

Cousin Joe continued to perform and record throughout his life, touring Europe in the 1970s and releasing albums like 'Gospel-Wailing, Jazz-Playing, Rock'n'Rolling, Soul-Shouting, Tap-Dancing Bluesman From New Orleans.' Known for his witty lyrics, soulful voice, and genre-blending style, Cousin Joe left a lasting legacy as a pioneering figure in blues and jazz. He passed away in New Orleans on October 2, 1989, remembered for his humor, wisdom, and deep influence on American music.

Fun Facts

• Cousin Joe performed under several stage names, including Smiling Joe, Pleasant Joe, and Brother Joshua.
• His first paid singing gig was in church at age seven, where the pastor would collect offerings for his performances.
• In his early twenties, he formed a popular street act called Hats, Coats & Greens, which was admired by a young Louis Prima.
• He almost joined the famous vocal group The Ink Spots as a replacement for Deek Watson, but was ultimately not selected due to image concerns.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Sidney Bechet - Band leader and mentor during Cousin Joe's time in St. Louis and New York, providing musical education and exposure to the jazz scene. (King Jazz recording sessions) [1941-1945]

Key Collaborators

• Mezz Mezzrow - Frequent collaborator and co-leader of the King Jazz sessions, which produced some of Cousin Joe's most celebrated recordings. (King Jazz sides (1945)) [mid-1940s]
• Billie Holiday - Shared the New York jazz scene and performed together during Cousin Joe's New York years. (Live performances (New York jazz clubs)) [1940s]
• Charlie Parker - Worked together in New York's jazz circuit. (Live performances) [1940s]
• Dizzy Gillespie - Collaborated in New York jazz scene. (Live performances) [1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Louis Prima - As a young musician, Prima was a fan of Cousin Joe's early street performances and vaudeville-style acts in New Orleans. (Inspired by Hats, Coats & Greens act) [1920s-1930s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Chicken a La King (Rhapsody in Bronze)
2. Won't Settle Down (From New Orleans)
3. Phoney Woman (Rhapsody in Bronze)
4. I Never Harmed An Onion (I Never Harmed An Onion)
5. Living on Borrowed Time
6. Weddin' Day Blues
7. Boogie (The Blues Of)
8. Country Boy (Rhapsody in Bronze)
9. Beggin' Woman (Rhapsody in Bronze)
10. Checkin' Out (Gospel-Wailing, Jazz Playing, Rock ‘N’ Rolling, Soul Shouting, Tap-Dancing Bluesman From New Orleans)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues, #jazz