Terry Callier

b. 24th May 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Jazz, Soul and Folk guitarist/singer-songwriter who began his recording career in 1963 but never reached stardom despite a series of regional hits in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1983, he gained custody of his daughter and retired from music in search of a more regular income, becoming a lecturer in computer programming at the University of Chicago in 1984.

He re-emerged from obscurity in the early 90's after British DJ's began playing tracks from his 70's albums. In 1991 Acid Jazz Records head Eddie Piller brought Callier to play clubs in Britain and he began to make regular trips to play gigs during his vacation time from work.

In the late 90's Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997. In 1998 he released the album Timepeace, for which he won the United Nations' Time For Peace Award For Outstanding Artistic Achievement Contributing To World Peace. Callier's colleagues at the University of Chicago had not known of his life as a musician, but following the award his secret life became widely known and subsequently lead to his firing.

Today, Callier is continuing his recording career having currently released five albums since Timepeace and has recently recorded with Massive Attack.