Jeff Callaway, March 17, 2009. Photograph by Newt Rayburn, The Local Voice. © 2009.
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 Marching Band, the Ole Miss Alumni Band, Ole Miss Wind Ensemble, 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. A visitation will be held at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Bruce, Mississippi, on January 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm with Brother Fish Robinson 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.
Obituary: Jeffrey Callaway (February 20, 1963–January 10, 2026)
Jeff Callaway, musician and educator, passed away on January 10, 2026, at the age of 62. Born on February 20, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi, Jeff led a life rich in music performance, teaching, and working in the restaurant industry. Jeff moved as a child with his family to Starkville, Mississippi, where his father continued his education at Mississippi State University.
Jeff’s life was a reflection of one of his favorite book series, The Lord of the Rings, where J.R.R. Tolkien reminds us that “All who wander are not lost.”
After his 1981 graduation from Starkville High School, Jeff began his academic career at Mississippi State University. After his sophomore year, Jeff transferred to the University of Mississippi and began work on a degree in music education. His successful undergrad tenure included outstanding work with all the elements of the Ole Miss music department, but especially The Mississippians jazz band, where he was often a featured player.
Along the way, Jeff was also principal trombone in the Ole Miss Wind Ensemble, section leader, and Drum Major of The Pride of the South Marching Band. Always a creative person, Jeff developed not only his jazz improvisatory skills but also began to dabble in music arranging for various mediums, including marching band and trombone ensemble.
A variety of graduate school experiences followed his 1986 Ole Miss graduation. Stops included Henderson State, VanderCook College of Music, and then a return to Oxford and Ole Miss.
His stay in Chicago at VanderCook was especially meaningful when he landed a dual job at the Hyatt-Regency “Big Bar,” where he tended bar but was also part of a select band that would put down their barware, grab their horns, and entertain those assembled with a variety of jazz and funk selections. It was during this time that Jeff really polished his instrumental skills that were to benefit him for the rest of his life.
Jeff briefly taught Band in Philadelphia and Batesville and was a fixture with high school and community college bands around the state during summer pre-school preparations.
However, playing was his first love, and he found himself in Oxford as an in-demand player. Through the years, he was regularly seen locally and around the state, fronting his own band, sitting in with others, and eventually self-publishing his CD of original music, That Was the Mo’tet.
He was seen with such prestigious performers as Marty Stuart and Dan Akroyd. He could also be heard on MPB’s Thacker Mountain Radio, working studio gigs in Memphis and Jackson, Capital City Stage Band, and the Dee Barton Jazz Orchestra. Of special significance to him was his contributions to the Russell Experience with their annual performances for the Black Congressional Caucus in Washington, DC.
Jeff was an indelible part of Oxford culture. Those who knew him and played with him continually sang his praises as a consummate artist and passionate friend. His impact on the cultural scene of Oxford will long be remembered.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Jeff worked as a cook at two restaurants, Volta Taverna in Oxford and The Crawdad Hole in Water Valley. His passions extended beyond music and cooking; he had a unique flair for graphic design, blending his creative interests seamlessly.
Jeff was known for his encouraging words to others, his fountain of knowledge on various topics, his deep passions, and for being a true friend.
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 A. Callaway, and his mother, Charlene Watkins Callaway.
A visitation will be held at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Bruce, Mississippi, on January 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm with Brother Fish Robinson officiating, where friends and family are invited to celebrate his life and legacy. A brief graveside service will follow. He will be laid to rest at 474 Hwy 9N, Bruce, MS 38915.
Jeff will be deeply missed by all who knew him and will live on in the hearts of those he inspired.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to either the Lafayette Animal Shelter, or the Oxford City Farmer’s Market.
Click here to see all Jeff Callaway articles currently online at The Local Voice.
See also: “An Interview with Local Musician Jeff Callaway” – The Local Voice #76, March 19, 2009. Photographs by Newt Rayburn.
See also: “Sideman No More: Jeff Callaway Showcases Songwriting with New Stage Show, Solo Record” by Tom Speed – The Local Voice #180, May 16-30, 2013. Photographs by Newt Rayburn.
After coming back to teach at Ole Miss I played gigs with Jeff once or twice a year for this event or that. He was one of the legions of great musicians out there who never become well-known outside of their immediate areas, but those in the know…know. I wouldn’t say I knew Jeff real well but everyone that did loved him. I’ll miss playing and visiting and talking trombone with him.
This painting was made from a photograph of the first Ronzo second-line parade back in 2019. Jeff is playing trombone in the foreground; I am playing sousaphone. After we got to the Square Jeff just started calling jazz/gospel tunes and I was mostly able to keep up. Thankfully, the tuba parts to most of those tunes are mostly the same. 😀” – Micah Everett
— Jay McArthur, with Jeff Callaway and Chris McArthur.”
“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
“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 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
Photograph by Deborah Freeland of the band Compositionz at Johnny Morgan’s Shop. This was one of Jeff Callaway’s Final Shows:
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