Kansas Joe McCoy

Joe McCoy (May 11, 1905 in Jackson, Mississippi; † January 28, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois) was an American blues guitarist and singer. He was the older brother of Papa Charlie McCoy. He was known as Kansas Joe McCoy, but also appeared under pseudonyms such as Hillbilly Plowboy, Mud Dauber Joe, Hamfoot Ham, Georgia Pine Boy and Hallelujah Joe.

In the 1920s, McCoy played in Memphis, including the Beale Street Jug Band. Here he met his wife Lizzie Douglas, who became known as Memphis Minnie. In 1929, she took together on the hit Bumble Bee.

In 1930 the couple moved to Chicago and celebrated there until their divorce success. In the late 1930s, McCoy formed the band with his brother Harlem Hamfats who accompanied the singer Rosetta Howard. He also took solo tracks on which he composed himself, as One More Greasing, Oh Red What You Gonna Do and Why Do not You Do Right.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Charlie McCoy was drafted into the army, while Joe was spared because of health problems. He founded Big Joe & His Washboard band, with which he performed until his death at the age of only 44 years.