Bo Chatman, also known by his real name Armenter Chatmon, was a significant figure in the early country blues scene. Born on March 21, 1893, on the Dupress Plantation near Bolton, Mississippi, he was part of the musically gifted Chatmon family. His father, Henderson Chatmon, and mother, Eliza Jackson, along with his twelve siblings, were all musicians. Bo Chatman was versatile, playing guitar, bass, banjo, violin, and clarinet.

He initially performed with his brothers in a string band that later became known as the Mississippi Sheiks, a prominent African American string band of the 1930s. Though he often played live with the Sheiks, he appeared on only a few of their recordings. Bo Chatman was particularly known for his hokum-style blues, characterized by humorous and risqué lyrics, as seen in songs like “Banana in Your Fruit Basket” and “Please Warm My Wiener.” He also recorded the earliest version of the blues standard “Corrine, Corrina” in 1928.

Throughout his career, Bo Chatman recorded over 100 songs for labels such as Bluebird and OKeh, despite losing his eyesight in the 1930s. His music encompassed various styles, including blues and country dance tunes, and he was known for his ability to perform songs with a thirty-two-bar AABA structure, which was uncommon in blues.

Bo Chatman passed away on September 21, 1964, in Memphis, Tennessee, after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Despite dying in relative obscurity, his contributions to the blues genre have left a lasting impact.