The soul legend who nearly got away, Terry Callier is currently being restored to his rightful place in music history, following a long period of self-imposed exile. The Chicago-based singer-songwriter began his career at the vanguard of the urban-folk boom of the 1960s, releasing his debut album, The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier, in 1964. By the 1970s, Callier had established a strong cult following for his jazz-influenced, socially-aware r&b style, but, disillusioned by the record industry, he abandoned his musical career after just four albums. Callier's name may have faded into oblivion were it not for some 1990s English acid-jazz aficionados who uncovered Callier's early works. Soon, the likes of Gilles Peterson, Dr Bob Jones and Pete Tong were spinning Callier tunes on the dance floor, and it wasn't long before Callier himself was lured out of retirement to record last year's Time Peace album. Now fully rehabilitated into the music scene, Callier closes this year's Guinness Blues Festival with a gig in Vicar Street tomorrow night.
