Papa Charlie Jackson, born William Henry Jackson on November 10, 1887, in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a pioneering African American blues musician known for his work as a songster and his skill with the banjo guitar, guitar, and ukulele. His recording career commenced in 1924, and he became recognized as the first self-accompanied blues musician to make records. Jackson's early career involved performing in minstrel and medicine shows, and he was a notable figure in Chicago's Maxwell Street Market scene during the 1920s and 1930s.

Jackson's discography includes the commercially successful "Airy Man Blues" and "Papa's Lawdy Lawdy Blues," recorded in 1924 for Paramount Records. His most famous song, "Salty Dog Blues," became a blues standard. He also collaborated with classic female blues singers like Ida Cox, Hattie McDaniel, and Ma Rainey. In September 1929, Jackson recorded with Blind Arthur Blake, producing the unique "Papa Charlie and Blind Blake Talk About It" parts one and two.

Throughout his career, Jackson recorded 66 sides and was a key figure in the hokum genre, known for its lively rhythms and suggestive lyrics. Despite his influence, Jackson has not received significant attention from blues historians. He passed away on May 7, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. His innovative style and contributions to the blues genre remain noteworthy, though he is often overlooked in historical accounts.