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Kansas Joe McCoy

1905 – 1950

American Delta blues musician and songwriter

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About Kansas Joe McCoy

Lived 1905 – 1950 (aged 44). Kansas Joe McCoy was an American musician, singer, guitarist, songwriter and composer.

Wilbur Joe "Kansas Joe" McCoy (May 11, 1905 – January 28, 1950) was an American Delta blues singer, musician and songwriter.

Career McCoy performed under various stage names but is best known as Kansas Joe McCoy. Born in Raymond, Mississippi, In 1930, the couple moved to Chicago, where they were an important part of the burgeoning blues scene there.

At the outbreak of World War II Charlie McCoy entered the military, but a heart condition kept Joe McCoy from service. He formed a band, Big Joe and his Rhythm, which performed during most of the 1940s. The band featured Robert Nighthawk on harmonica and Charlie McCoy on mandolin. He also used the names Hamfoot Ham, Hillbilly Plowboy, and Mud Dauber Joe. was held in October 2010 to celebrate the music of Joe and Charlie McCoy and to buy gravestones for each of them; they were installed on May 31, 2011.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Wilbur "Kansas Joe" McCoy, Wilbur McCoy, Joe McCoy, Kansas Joseph Allen McCoy

People in Kansas Joe McCoy's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kansas Joe McCoy's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Kansas Joe McCoy?

American Delta blues musician and songwriter (1905–1950)

When was Kansas Joe McCoy born?

Kansas Joe McCoy was born on 11 May 1905 in Jackson.

When did Kansas Joe McCoy die?

Kansas Joe McCoy died on 28 January 1950 in Chicago.

What was Kansas Joe McCoy's occupation?

Kansas Joe McCoy was a musician, singer, guitarist, songwriter and composer.

What nationality was Kansas Joe McCoy?

Kansas Joe McCoy was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kansas Joe McCoy

· Wikidata: Q713859

· DBpedia: Kansas Joe McCoy

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kansas Joe McCoy. https://biography.guide/kansas-joe-mccoy/

MLA: "Kansas Joe McCoy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kansas-joe-mccoy/.

Chicago: "Kansas Joe McCoy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kansas-joe-mccoy/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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