Mr. Sipp, “The Mississippi Blues Child,” Castro Coleman won
the International Blues Challenge in Memphis 2014 and made his
debut on Malaco Records in 2015.
Castro Coleman was born in McComb, Mississippi, on August 25,
1976, and started playing guitar as a young child. Coleman
recalls, “I was born a musician. Music was in my life from the
moment I arrived; both of my parents were in singing groups and
played some type of instrument. It’s just a natural part of me.”
Early on he played in several gospel groups and later took a
role behind the scenes playing on more than 50 gospel recordings
while also learning the role of producer and honing his skills
as a songwriter and entertainer.
Never one to be pigeonholed musically, in 2013 Mr. Sipp was born
and launched himself into the blues world. Sporting a look
anchored by thick, black glasses with a piece of tape around the
nose brace, this performer can deliver the goods, and his live
shows were immediately hailed as “passionate and energetic.” Mr.
Sipp’s first months as a performer were chaotic but rewarding.
“We competed in [the International Blues Challenge in] 2013 and
at the time I was a month old. Me and my guys had only been
doing the blues for a month. We signed up for the regional
challenge, had never done a blues show, won first place there,
and made it to the IBC finals, didn’t win the finals, and I was
encouraged to come back.” In 2014 he did just that, again
winning the regionals but this time actually winning the top
prize at the annual International Blues Challenge held by the
Blues Foundation in Memphis. He also won the 2014 Gibson Best
Guitarist Award, the 2014 Jus’ Blues Foundation’s Bobby Rush
Entertainer’s Award and the 2015 Jackson Music Awards Blues
Artist of the Year.
The Mississippi Blues Child released his first album in 2014 on
his own label. The release garnered praise, heralding Mr. Sipp
as an exciting newcomer. Living Blues said, “A good number of
younger-generation blues artists have emerged from Mississippi
in recent years to show that the torch is still being carried
and Castro Coleman demonstrates here that he’s a full-fledged
member of that up-and-coming fraternity.”
Coleman, who was already under contract with Malaco for his
gospel recordings, began to work on a new CD. "The
Mississippi Blues Child" was released in the spring of 2015
to rave reviews and debuted at No. 6 on the Living Blues Radio
Chart.
Vernon Garrett
"Knock A Hole In It" (Malaco 2016)
"It's My Guitar" (self released 2013)
"Sippnotized" (Malaco 2021)