Cousin Joe


Pleasant Joseph, known as Cousin Joe, was a New Orleans blues and jazz singer, famous for his 1940s recordings with Sidney Bechet and Mezz Mezzrow.

Life

He was born in Wallace, Louisiana, United States, and worked at Whitney Plantation throughout his childhood.
Until 1945, Cousin Joe toured Louisiana; that year he was asked to take part in the King Jazz recording sessions organized by Mezzrow and Bechet.
In the 1970s, Cousin Joe toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, both individually and as part of the American Blues Legends '74 revue organised by Big Bear Music. He also recorded the albums Gospel-Wailing, Jazz-Playing, Rock'n'Rolling, Soul-Shouting, Tap-Dancing Bluesman From New Orleans for Big Bear.
Cousin Joe died in his sleep from natural causes in New Orleans, at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife Irene Joseph, son Michael and his three grandchildren Rahsaan, Mignonne and Jarrell.

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.

    Partial discography

  • 1971 : Bad Luck Blues with Jimmy Dawkins and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
  • 1973 : Cousin Joe From New Orleans
  • 1974 : Gospel Wailing, Jazz Playing, Soul Shouting, Tap Dancing Bluesman from New Orleans
  • 1974 : American Blues Legends '74
  • 1984 : Cousin Joe from New Orleans in his prime
  • 1985 : Relaxin' in New Orleans / Cousin Joe. New Orleans, LA : Great Southern Records. 1 sound disc : analog, 33 rpm ; 12 in.
  • 1995 : Jumping at Jubilee . London : Sequel, NEM CD 749
  • 1996 : Blues Festival ., NEW CD 17 105
  • 2003 : Magic Bostic - Bostic, Earl, 1913–1965 / Earl Bostic. Paris : Jazz Archives

    Filmography

  • 2005 : DVD ''The Blues of Cousin Joe''