Cousin Joe | nl

Pleasant Joseph known as Cousin Joe (December 20, 1907 — October 2, 1989) was an American blues and jazz singer, pianist and guitarist, later famous for his 1940s recordings with clarinetist Sidney Bechet and saxophonist Mezz Mezzrow.

His birth name was Pleasant Joseph and he was born in Wallace, Louisiana, United States.
Unitil 1945 Cousin Joe toured Louisiana as a blues player, that year he was asked to take part in the King Jazz recording sessions organized by Mezzrow and Bechet.
Cousin Joe died in his sleep from natural causes in New Orleans, at the age of 81.

Autobiography

Cousin Joe : Blues from New Orleans / Pleasant "Cousin Joe" Joseph and Harriet J. Ottenheimer. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1987. xi, 227 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. ISBN 0-226-41198-2

Partial discography

1971 : Bad Luck Blues (Black & Blue) with Jimmy Dawkins and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
1974 : Cousin Joe From New Orleans (Big Bear Records)
1984 : Cousin Joe from New Orleans in his prime (Oldie Blues)
1985 : Relaxin’ in New Orleans [sound recording] / Cousin Joe. New Orleans, LA : Great Southern Records. 1 sound disc : analog, 33⅓ rpm ; 12 in.
1995 : Jumping at Jubilee [sound recording]. London : Sequel, NEM CD 749
2003 : Magic Bostic - Bostic, Earl, 1913–1965 [sound recording] / Earl Bostic. Paris : Jazz Archives

Filmography

2005 : DVD The Blues of Cousin Joe (live - 29 August 1984 in New Orleans) (Storyville Films)
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