Charly Lincoln
b. Charley Hicks, 11 March 1900, Lithonia, Georgia, USA, d. 28 September 1963, Cairo, Georgia, USA. Like his younger brother Robert ‘ Barbecue Bob’ Hicks, Lincoln learned guitar from Curley Weaver's mother, but was less accomplished than Bob. He recorded from 1927-30, probably thanks to his brother's hit-making status, and his blues are a mix of the sad and the mildly risque, backed by simple 12-string guitar. Despite being billed as Laughing Charley on a duet with Bob, Lincoln was a man whose mood changed under the influence of drink from introverted to choleric, a trait exacerbated by the alcoholism that followed various family tragedies, notably the premature death of his brother in 1929. On Christmas Day, 1955, he senselessly murdered a man, and spent the rest of his life in prison, repentant and performing only religious songs.