Terry Callier

Terry Callier is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and vocalist from Chicago. His work spans Chicago soul, jazz, progressive folk, R&B, rock and blues. He is active from the 1960s through to the 2010s and is associated with the Chicago music scene and the wider revival of interest in his recordings in Britain and elsewhere.

Early career and Cadet records

Callier begins recording in 1963. He is a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield and makes a series of regional hits in the 1960s and 1970s, though he does not achieve mainstream stardom. He records three noted albums for Cadet: Occasional Rain (1972), What Color Is Love (1973) and I Just Can't Help Myself (1974).

Retirement and rediscovery

In 1983, after gaining custody of his 12-year-old daughter Sundiata, he leaves music to look for more stable work. He studies computer programming and takes a job at the University of Chicago in 1984. British DJs later rediscover his older recordings and begin playing his songs in clubs in the early 1990s, bringing him back to public attention.

Later work

Acid Jazz Records head Eddie Pillar brings Callier to perform in Britain from 1991, and he returns regularly during vacation time from his university job. He comes back to recording in the late 1990s, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing Timepeace in 1998. That album wins the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace. After this, his work at the University of Chicago becomes known and he loses that job.

Recordings and collaborations

Callier continues to record and tour internationally after his return, releasing Lifetime (1999), Alive (2001), Speak Your Peace (2002) and Lookin' Out (2004). In 2001 he performs “Satin Doll” for the Red Hot Organization compilation Red Hot + Indigo, a tribute to Duke Ellington that raises money for AIDS-related charities. In May 2009 he releases Hidden Conversations on Mr Bongo, featuring Massive Attack.

Death

Callier is born in 1945 and dies in 2012 after a long illness.