Cousin Joe

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

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, 33​¹⁄₃ rpm ; 12 in.
• 1995 : Jumping at Jubilee [sound recording]. London : Sequel, NEM CD 749
• 1996 : Blues Festival [sound recording]. {Laserlight Records}, NEW CD 17 105
• 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)