The Local Voice is incredibly sad to hear of the passing of our longtime friend Jeff Callaway, a legend in the Mississippi music scene. It is hard to remember a time when we didn’t know Jeff, as he has been a giant among mortals for decades in Oxford.
Jeff was voted “Oxford’s Favorite Horn Player” in our yearly Townies Awards nearly every year of the last two decades. Jeff was also featured in our publication multiple times, including two covers of The Local Voice newspaper, issue number #76 (March 19-April 2, 2009) and issue #180 (May 16-30, 2013). Publisher Newt Rayburn shot photo sessions and videos with Jeff Callaway many times.
The list of bands that Jeff played with is long and seemingly never ending. It will take a long time to complete that list. Jeff was known for playing with many bands over the years, including Kudzu Kings, The Hemptones, The Pride of the South Ole Miss Band, the Ole Miss Alumni Band, The Collegians, Sincere Ramblers, Enigma Jazz Project, Prohibition Jazz Band, The Neckbones, The Supernatural, Taylor Grocery Band, Blue Mountain, Dent May, John Hiatt, The Actual Tigers, Dead Fingers, Los Buddies, Delta Krauts, The Soul Tones, KC Ray, The Yallobushwackers, Wobitty, and Afrissippi, among many, many others.
The following is Jeff Callaway’s obituary and as many remembrances, testimonies, photographs, and videos as we could gather in a day or so since his death. Jeff’s funeral will be at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Bruce, Mississippi on January 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm with Brother Fish Roberson officiating, where friends and family are invited to celebrate his life and legacy. A memorial gathering will be held at Proud Larry’s in Oxford on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 5–7 pm.
A memorial gathering for Jeff Callaway will be held at Proud Larry’s in Oxford on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 5–7 pm.
Jeffrey Callaway, a beloved chef, musician, and educator, passed away unexpectedly on January 10, 2026, at the age of 62. Born on February 20, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi, Jeff led a life rich in music, teaching, and culinary arts.
A talented trombonist, Jeff dedicated much of his life to music, teaching beginners’ band and leading summer band camps, sharing his passion for music composition with countless students. He began his higher education journey at Mississippi State University before transferring to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where he earned a Master’s Degree in Music. He also attended Vandercook College of Music, further honing his craft and inspiring others with his talent. While in Ole Miss he was a member of The Pride Of The South Band where he served as drum major and to this day some of his music arrangements is still used in sporting events..
In addition to his musical pursuits, Jeff was a respected chef, working at Volta Taverna in Oxford and The Crawdad Hole in Water Valley, where he delighted customers with his culinary skills. His passion extended beyond music and cooking; he had a unique flair for graphic design, blending his creative interests seamlessly.
Jeff Callaway was well-known in the Oxford music scene for his remarkable talent and ability to connect with musicians and audiences alike. He loved traveling to music gigs, a testament to his fervor for performance and collaboration.
He is survived by his loving sister, Amy (Timothy) McCauley, who will cherish the memories of their time together.
Jeffrey was preceded in death by his father, Robert Callaway, and his mother, Charlene Watkins Callaway.
A funeral service will be held for Jeffrey at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Bruce, Mississippi on January 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm with Brother Fish Roberson officiating, where friends and family are invited to celebrate his life and legacy. He will be laid to rest at 474 Highway 9 North, Bruce, Mississippi 38915.
Jeffrey will be deeply missed by all who knew him and will live on in the hearts of those he inspired through his music and culinary artistry.
The cover of The Local Voice #76 newspaper, March 19-April 2, 2009, featuring Jeff Callaway. Photograph and artwork by Newt Rayburn. To read the interview with Jeff Callaway, click here.The cover of The Local Voice #180 newspaper, May 16-30, 2013, featuring Jeff Callaway. Photograph and artwork by Newt Rayburn. To read “Sideman No More: Jeff Callaway Showcases Songwriting with New Stage Show, Solo Record” by Tom Speed, click here.“Jeff Callaway gave me this picture framed up for Christmas one year. He said something to the effect of ‘here’s your Dick Waterman pic.’ I joked that he perfectly captured my irritation of an E minor chord. This was taken at Proud Larry’s during Jeff’s singer song writer show he’d put together. I was fortunate enough to work with Jeff and to become dear friends with him. In fact, he is the first person to ever pay me for studio work. What Dick captured in that photo, was a class act that had played music with an actual Ghostbuster. It’s just in front of him was an irritable guitar player who, for some reason, was mad at E minor. I love you and miss you buddy!” – Nick Spiller, Photograph by Dick Waterman. Left to right: Nick Spiller, Jeff Callaway, and Jason Ball.Jeff Callaway, Nick Spiller, and a guitarist who I don’t know jammed in front of Ajax Diner, playing for tips on the city streets. Photograph by Newt Rayburn, October 4, 2014.Jeff Callaway. Photograph from the poster “Is Jeff Callaway Wasting His Life”, 2013.Marty Stuart, Duff Dorrough and Jeff Callaway at a memorable Thacker performance at the Gertrude C. Ford Center in Oxford, Mississippi on April 30, 2009. Photo: Mark YacovoneJeff Callaway, date unknown. Photo: Mark YacovoneJeff Callaway, October 3, 2013, at The Lyric Theatre, Oxford, Mississippi. Photo: Wanda McCool NataleCasey Lipe and Jeff Callaway, November 14, 2013, at The Lyric Theatre, Oxford, Mississippi. Photo: Unknown“Dear friend and fellow musician that I’ve played countless gigs with over the past many years, Jeff Callaway has gone to the great gig in the sky. He was a strong presence in the MS music scene for many decades, and garnered respect from the highest levels of musicdom in the area. Tricia and I are so very saddened by this, but his memory will live on everytime I play with any of the bands we played together with, or when I think about the great gigs we played in so many venues, particularly this venue in Washington DC, which was a favorite gig for both of us over the past 16 years. Rest in peace my great friend and horn section mate!” – Richard Beverly“Better days. His memory will always be a blessing.” — Jay McArthur, with Jeff Callaway and Chris McArthur.”“Jeff Callaway was my friend.” – Erika Lipe“The man… the myth… the Legend! Rest in Peace, Jeff” – William Sartor “I’ll sure miss playing next to you, Jeff. Rest in peace, man.” – Craig Tucker
“RIP Jeff Callaway. You were a great guy. He was my first jazz band director in college and one absolute monster on the trombone. I learned a lot from him that year and thoroughly enjoyed being under him. Rest in peace, my friend.” – Russ Jennings
“For any of my friends who remember Jeff Callaway while he was at VanderCook, I just found out he passed away this morning after complications from open heart surgery. Jeff was a great guy and will be missed by many. Memories of him always bring a smile to my face. RIP, Jeff. ” – Tom Seaman
“Sight reading Jazz with old and new friends at the Ole Miss Alumni Musicians Association (OMAMA) reunion! Jeff was one of the key organizers of the 2016 OMAMA reunion. Fun times.” – William Sartor“The man… the myth… the Legend! Rest in Peace, Jeff” – William Sartor “The man… the myth… the Legend! Rest in Peace, Jeff” – William Sartor “The man… the myth… the Legend! Rest in Peace, Jeff” – William Sartor “The man… the myth… the Legend! Rest in Peace, Jeff” – William Sartor
“RIP Jeff Callaway… So sad to hear of his passing… He was such a good guy and a really beautiful spirit. He was a good friend to me, loyal to a fault, and I sure had some good times (though sadly few) playing music with him. When the Preacher’s Kids recorded our first LP, Tyler wanted some kind of soul music horns on the song “Make Up, Make Up” and we got Jeff to come in and hang out and listen to us beat up the song a few times. He quickly wrote a really groovy part and recorded it tout de suite, overdubbing several horn parts with clever intervals to sound like a New Orleans street corner section! We loved it! ! And, I loved the guy, too. Just a good guy. He’ll be greatly missed.” – Patrick Cochran
“Jeff Callaway 1963-2026 Musician, bringer of fun, rebs fan, and friend. You reminded me to focus on joy and laughter. You will be missed! (This was during a photo shoot for The Valley Vagabonds. He was clowning – something we all enjoyed 😉. Photo credit: Kevin Herrera)” – Gail HerreraElwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) and Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway “By Landlord’s Request” album artwork. The Local Voice newspaper bin in the photograph was created by Jimmy Pitts. Jeff Callaway’s name is about half way down.Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway, Patti Harrison, and Jamo Gait.Bill Perry Jr., Andrew George, and Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway is the far-right trombone player in this Ole Miss ensemble.Jeff Callaway.“When I think back to our grade-school years, what I remember most about CLASSMATE JEFF CALLAWAY was his love for the band Chicago and the show Star Trek. As adults, we ran into each other only once or twice a decade, but when we did, we usually found ourselves commiserating about our career paths. Jeff and I shared something in common in terms of that. We both took the hard road: Jeff pursued music as his livelihood, and I pursued art and writing. And we both did it on our own terms. I recall seeing him at The Book Mart in Starkville when he was home one time, and we got to reminiscing about our experiences in 9th-grade PEAK. Jeff and I were in the inaugural class of that program, and we even made the newspaper together (the picture posted). I remember him laughing and saying, “Laurie, I think you and I are the only two people from PEAK who didn’t end up in careers that made us rich.” We would compare notes on the difficulties of being self-employed—things like not having health insurance, for one. Because neither of us ever married, we could also relate to how it felt to not have families of our own as all of our other classmates did. We sometimes talked about having ended up in places in life where it seems like everyone else is blessed with money success AND love success. We definitely had some downer conversations! Yet I also remember being in my booth at Jackson’s Mistletoe Marketplace in 2000 on the night of their big gala event, getting ready to sign books and sell my handmade wares, and looking up when someone said my name—to see Jeff, grinning from ear to ear—and in a black tux! He was in the symphony orchestra playing there that night! I remember thinking the fact that we both had artistic gigs at such a hoity-toity event was really cool. There we were, our paths crossing in the state capital, both doing what we love and making a little money doing it. The bottom line is, we both were living lives that were pretty darn fabulous. Lives rich with experiences. I know for myself, that despite how incredibly hard it has been, I could not have lived any other way. Because had anything other than art and writing been my job, I would not have been living authentically. And I think I can speak for Jeff and say that it was the same for him. Music was his calling, and he answered. He was willing to go without niceties in life to pursue what he was put here to do. And I think he had one heck of a ride doing it. Jeff was a highly intelligent, articulate guy with a sardonic sense of humor. But having known him since we were both children, I always recognized that ultimately he was a big teddy bear. It is a comfort to know that his angel of a sister, my friend Amy, was there with him through his medical ordeals at the end. And as I knew his mother Charlene well, I can say that he couldn’t have been greeted by anyone sweeter on the other side. Jeff’s old pal Bob Murrmann was nearby, no doubt. Rest in peace and celestial music, Jeff.” – Laurie Parker“Rest in Power my soul bro Jeff Callaway. I took this photo of him performing at the Mississippi John Hurt Homecoming Festival in October 2023. What a huge loss for Mississippi’s music community.” – Corey Crowder“I took this photo of Jeff Callaway as he lifted his horn and loudly blew a joyful noise in defiance of the police who were trying to hurry up and get the Ronzo memorial parade party to break up and clear the street. It seems fitting to share it now. Jeff was a brilliant multi-instrumentalist musician, charismatic and underappreciated singer and storyteller. A thankless ambassador for our beloved Mississippi and easily one of its finest. He ALWAYS wished me a happy birthday. He got me on the list to get into the annual Congressional Black Caucus ball and party in Washington DC uninvited! He helped me on a writing project for grad school. He was a great evangelist for the little-recognized importance of Dick Waterman to the evolution and preservation of blues as an art form and cultural treasure. He was everything that makes Oxford a magical place. A real mensch. He played themed shows titled “Is Jeff Calloway Wasting His Life?” To that i would answer categorically, unequivocally 100% no. He lived life exactly the best way. With joy, passion, love, creativity, never chasing material gain, never holding anger and rejecting any and all self importance. A friend to all and enemy to no one. It is a life well lived. Jeff was Mississippi. No higher praise exists.” – Daniel Perea“Dear friend and fellow musician that I’ve played countless gigs with over the past many years, Jeff Callaway has gone to the great gig in the sky. He was a strong presence in the MS music scene for many decades, and garnered respect from the highest levels of musicdom in the area. Tricia and I are so very saddened by this, but his memory will live on everytime I play with any of the bands we played together with, or when I think about the great gigs we played in so many venues, particularly this venue in Washington DC, which was a favorite gig for both of us over the past 16 years. Rest in peace my great friend and horn section mate!” – Richard BeverlyJeff Callaway working at Volta Taverna in Oxford, Mississippi.Jeff Callaway, Heather Sneed, Randy Yates, Emily Bowen Moore, and Brooke Boral Krizbai at Double Decker Festival in Oxford, Mississippi.Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway.“83/84… Jeff Callways’s expression. IYKYK” – Chris McArthurBill Perry Jr. and Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway.Jeff Callaway sings “Minnie the Moocher” as Thacker Mountain Radio performs a vintage radio show based upon his book “Infamous” at the Lyric in Oxford, Mississippi on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Photographs by Bruce Newman.
Photograph by Deborah Freeland of the band Compositionz at Johnny Morgan’s Shop. This was one of Jeff Callaway’s Final Shows:
Photograph by Deborah Freeland of the band Compositionz at Johnny Morgan’s Shop. This was one of Jeff Callaway’s Final Shows.
The Local Voice is a bimonthly entertainment guide and newspaper based in Oxford, Mississippi, covering and distributed in North Central Mississippi, including Oxford, Ole Miss, Taylor, Abbeville, Water Valley, Lafayette County, Yalobusha County, and parts of Panola County, Marshall County, and Tupelo . The Local Voice is distributed free to over 255 locations in North Mississippi and also available as a full color PDF download worldwide on the internet.
” – Tom Seaman
