Country blues singer and guitarist, who recorded four titles for Decca in 1937. He also backed Sleepy John Estes in 1937 (and possibly in 1938), and possibly Lee Green in 1937.
Selected Recordings:
- Crazy 'Bout My Black Gal, Charlie Pickett (vocals, guitar), with Lee Brown (piano), probably Hammie Nixon (harmonica); 8/2/1937 New York, NY (Decca 7762, matrix 62467).
- Trembling Blues, Charlie Pickett (vocals, guitar), with Lee Brown (piano), probably Hammie Nixon (harmonica); 8/2/1937 New York, NY (Decca 7762, matrix 62468).
- Let Me Squeeze Me Your Lemon, Charlie Pickett (vocals, guitar); 8/3/1937 New York, NY (Decca 7707, matrix 62487).
- Down The Highway, Charlie Pickett (vocals, guitar); 8/3/1937 New York, NY (Decca 7707, matrix 62488).
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Charlie Pickett was a Memphis musician, who is probably best known as an accompanist for Sleepy John Estes on a lot of Sleepy John's recordings. Charlie Pickett's solo recording of "Down The Highway" is a remarkable performance, one of a kind (unless he recorded another song with the same melody and accompaniment). The song is accompanied out of E position in standard tuning and has a florid, almost Flamenco-sounding signature lick. In addition, his right hand technique is mysterious; he sounds to be flat-picking, but at various times in the course of his rendition he hits very forcefully played licks on his first string while striking the fifth and/or fourth strings in the bass and none of the strings in between. He accompanies his singing with lines in the treble, and the way that they track his singing is really exciting. ~ Johnm
from Big Road Blues Show 2/21/10:
Little is known about Charlie Pickett, who was from Brownsville, TN. Sheldon Harris reported that he was Estes cousin. Hammie Nixon had him performing in a group with Estes, Nixon, and others on the streets of Chicago in the 1930's and 1940's. Nixon told Kip Lornell in 1975, "He started preaching in St. Louis, been living in St. Louis for a couple of years. I think he's preaching in Los Angeles now." Of the song "Let Me Squeeze Your Lemon",Nixon said, "I will never forget the first time he started playing that song, how he sung a something like, 'When I got home, another nigger kicking in my stall.' The bossman told him 'don't say that no more!'" He cut four sides for Decca in 1937 backed by Hammie Nixon and Lee Brown. Pickett also played guitar behind Estes on 19 numbers at sessions in 1937 and 1938. He or Estes may have played guitar behind pianist Lee Green at a 1937 session.