His family considered it normal to play music, with his father playing guitar and harmonica, his mother playing piano, and a relative who was a one-man band. At the age of three, Musselwhite moved to Memphis, Tennessee. When he was a teenager, Memphis experienced the period when rockabilly, western swing, electric blues, and some forms of African American music were combining to give birth to rock and roll. The period featured legendary figures such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, as well as minor legends such as Gus Cannon, Furry Lewis, Will Shade, Royal Bell, Memphis Willie B., Johnny Burnette, Red Roby, Abe McNeal, and Slim Rhodes. Musselwhite supported himself by digging ditches, laying concrete and running moonshine in a 1950 Lincoln. This environment was Musselwhite's school for music as well as life, and he acquired the nickname "Memphis Charlie."[citation needed]
In true bluesman fashion, Musselwhite then took off in search of the rumored "big-paying factory jobs" up the "Hillbilly Highway", legendary Highway 61 to Chicago, where he continued his education on the South Side, making the acquaintance of even more legends including Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Big Walter Horton. Musselwhite immersed himself completely in the musical life, living in the basement of, and occasionally working at Jazz Record Mart (the record store operated by Delmark Records founder Bob Koester) with Big Joe Williams and working as a driver for an exterminator, which allowed him to observe what was happening around the city's clubs and bars. He spent his time hanging out at the Jazz Record Mart at the corner of State and Grand and the nearby bar, Mr. Joe's, with the city's blues musicians, and sitting in with Big Joe Williams and others in the clubs, playing for tips. There he forged a lifelong friendship with John Lee Hooker; though Hooker lived in Detroit, Michigan, the two often visiting each other, and Hooker serving as best man at Musselwhite's wedding. Gradually Musselwhite became well known around town.
In time, Musselwhite led his own blues band, and, after Elektra Records' success with Paul Butterfield, he released the classic[citation needed] Stand Back! album in 1966 on Vanguard Records (as "Charley Musselwhite"), to immediate and great success. He took advantage of the clout this album gave him to move to San Francisco, where, instead of being one of many competing blues acts, he held court as the king of the blues in the exploding countercultural music scene, an exotic and gritty figure to the flower children. Musselwhite even convinced Hooker to move out to California.
Since then, Musselwhite has released over 20 albums, as well as guesting on albums by many other musicians, such as Bonnie Raitt's Longing in Their Hearts and The Blind Boys of Alabama's Spirit of the Century, both winners of Grammy awards. He also appeared on Tom Waits' Mule Variations and INXS' Suicide Blonde. He himself has won 14 W. C. Handy awards and six Grammy nominations, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Monterey Blues Festival and the San Javier Jazz Festival in San Javier, Spain, and the Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.
In 1979, Musselwhite recorded The Harmonica According to Charlie Musselwhite in London for Kicking Mule Records, intended to go with an instructional book; the album itself became so popular that it has been released on CD.
Unfortunately, Musselwhite, as with many of his peers, fell victim to alcoholism; by his own admission[citation needed], he had never been on stage sober until after he stopped drinking entirely in 1987.
In 1990 Musselwhite signed with Alligator Records, a step led to a resurgence of his career.
Over the years, Musselwhite has branched out in style. His 1999 recording, Continental Drifter, is accompanied by Quarteto Patria, from Cuba's Santiago region, the Cuban music analog of the Mississippi Delta. Because of the political differences between Cuba and the United States, the album was recorded in Bergen, Norway, with Musselwhite's wife ironing out all the details.
Musselwhite believes the key to his musical success was finding a style where he could express himself. He has said, "I only know one tune, and I play it faster or slower, or I change the key, but it’s just the one tune I’ve ever played in my life. It’s all I know."[1]
His past two albums, Sanctuary and Delta Hardware have both been released on Real World Records.
In Your Darkest Hour
Charlie Musselwhite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your darkest hour
Think of me darling
You're my desire
In your lonely room
In your darkest hour
Honey call on me
'Til I found the sun
Nobody loved me
Like my baby'd done
In your lonely room
In your darkest hour
Won't you call on me
You're gonna find me
On the rough side of town
Look for me darlin'
When your blues come down
In your lonely room
In your darkest hour
Please call on me
Stand at your window
Another lonesome dawn
Remember the good times, baby
Honey come back home
In your lonely room
In your darkest hour
You can call on me
Call on me, baby
The song "In Your Darkest Hour" by Charlie Musselwhite is a blues number that talks about the loneliness that one feels during the tough times. The lyrics convey a message of hope to someone who is suffering and asks them to think of the singer as their source of solace. He promises to be there for them, even when they are alone in their darkest of the moments.
The song speaks of the singer's own journey through difficult times until he found his true love, who loved him when nobody else did, and how that love now inspires him to be a support system for someone else. The singer tells the person to find him on the rough side of town when they are looking for him and to call on him when they need him. The lyrics also urge the person to remember the good times and come back home to the love that they lost.
Overall, "In Your Darkest Hour" is a song of encouragement and hope, telling the listener that they are not alone and that even in the worst moments, they can reach out for help and find love and support through others.
Line by Line Meaning
In your lonely room
When you are all by yourself
In your darkest hour
When you are at your lowest point
Think of me darling
Remember me, and know that I care for you
You're my desire
I long for you, you are my only want
Honey call on me
Contact me, I am here for you
I took a dark road
My journey was filled with hardships
'Til I found the sun
Until I finally found the light, the brighter side
Nobody loved me
No one showed me affection
Like my baby'd done
Except for my significant other
Won't you call on me
Please, I want to be there for you
You're gonna find me
You will encounter me
On the rough side of town
In the area where things are not so easy or luxurious
Look for me darlin'
Pay attention, I will be there
When your blues come down
When you are feeling sad or down
Please call on me
Contact me, I am here for you
Stand at your window
Look out from your window
Another lonesome dawn
A new day starting without anyone by your side
Remember the good times, baby
Recall the happy moments we shared together
Honey come back home
Return to me, let us be together again
You can call on me
You have my number, do not hesitate to contact me
Call on me, baby
Ask for my help or company, my love
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
artielon
A super guy and do envy his musicianship! Live long Charlie!
jim mcgann
Yes he is one special Bluesman,and he has such a happy face!I dig him.
Russell Huffer
I just met this great man 3 days ago..............what an inspiration he is!! This song will always echo through those lonely streets at night when your feeling down and need a way to escape.
Hal holbrook
wow! knew he was a master harp player, but no idea he can play great guitar. talent supreme
Sloan Skylar
Always so great to get good words from those that precede us on this lonesome road. I consider CM a predecessor. I used to consider myself a huge fan of this artist but am surprised he plays guitar, and so well too. I need to listen to more of his stuff. Any suggestions? “Blue’s, it can be more than music, it’s a whole kind of an attitude. How to look at life, it will take you through the world . . . in a good way, ‘cause it’s a thing of the heart—and you can trust your heart!”--Charlie Musslewhite.
FXMAN66
Charlie played Happy Birthday for me on my 40th. Best bithday I can barely remember.
Enio Mouzinho
great song..thnx from Brazil, blues is fantastic!!!!
Rusty Bergi
Charlie Musselwhite is a kind humble man with the greatest talent in the world and alway's willing to help a friend thanks for your advice awile back Charlie. Thanks Rusty Bergandine
irish saxguy
so cool...
designermite
...trust your heart..thank you...