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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMcCOY, Charlie(b 28 March 1941, Oak Hill VA) Multi-instrumentalist, famed Nashville sideman, best known for harmonica. Began playing harmonica and guitar in rock'n'roll bands in Miami; worked with Stonewall Jackson's touring band '59-60; signed to Cadence '61 and scored minor pop hit with 'Cherry Berry Wine', sessioned for Archie Bleyer with Andy Williams. Johnny Tillotson ('It Keeps Right On A'Hurtin' ' and 'Out Of My Mind' '62-3). He sessioned through the '60s on records by Bob Dylan, Perry Como, Joan Baez, many country artists; signed with Monument, recorded R&B-styled material without much success: The Real McCoy '69 didn't do much, but two years later his version of 'Today I Started Loving You Again' gained air play and became a chart hit. Further singles success with 'I Really Don't Want To Know' '72, 'Orange Blossom Special' '73, 'Boogie Woogie' '74 led to a Grammy '72, CMA Instrumentalist of the Year '72-3, ACM Best Specialty Instrumentalist '77-8-9. He was a member of the Nashville country-rock group Area Code 615, worked with Barefoot Jerry; more recently as a producer with new artists like Laney Smallwood. He was music director for TV's Hee-Haw; toured in Europe and recorded there (e.g. Live In Paris). Albums include Charlie McCoy '72, Goodtime Charlie '73, Fastest Harp In The South '73, The Nashville Hit Man '74, Charlie My Boy '75, Harpin' The Blues '76, Country Cookin' '77, Appalachian Fever '79, all on Monument. LP Stone Fox Chase in UK '77 included 'Today I Started Loving You Again'; the title track was the theme tune for UK TV music show Old Grey Whistle Test. Charlie McCoy's 13th '88, Beam Me Up Charlie '89 and Out On A Limb '91 were all on Step One. |