Joseph Calleja, better known by his stage name Joe C., was an Americanrapper and musician, best known for being a hype man for fellow rapper Kid Rock.
Condition
Calleja was born in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, Michigan and was diagnosed with a severe form of celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that may cause stunting and dwarfism and some complications in rare cases. Because of this, he had a maximum height of 3 ft 9 in at adult age. His dwarfism resulted in multiple medical problems. In 2000, he said in an interview with John Norris from MTV that he had to take 60 pills daily and required constant medical treatment. His Los Angeles Times obituary stated Calleja's medical regimen had required taking 65 pills daily, in addition to undergoing daily dialysis.
Career
Calleja first met fellow Michigan musician Kid Rock at a concert by the latter in Roseville, Michigan in 1994. In a backstage interview conducted by disc jockey Julie Slater of New York FM radio station K-Rock on July 24, 1999, after Kid Rock's performance at Woodstock 99, the artist said Calleja "used to come to all my shows, he would be standing on tables in the front row singing the lyrics." Kid Rock said in the interview that he mistakenly thought Joe C. was a child. Calleja asked a mutual acquaintance to tell Rock he wanted to smoke a joint with him, Rock said, after which the pair formally met and Rock learned Calleja was actually a 21-year-old adult. "He's talking and I'm like, would you like a job? He's like, I can't do anything. I'm like, it's not important right now. I was like, you got attitude flying all over this room. I was like, I'll teach you everything you need to know." In November 1999, Calleja had to leave the tour with Kid Rock, only appearing in a few programs from this issue. He appeared on television, including a guest role with Kid Rock on the animated seriesThe Simpsons, on the Season 11 episode "Kill the Alligator and Run". Joe C. was a World Wrestling Federation fan and made various references to the WWF stableD-Generation X during concerts. He appeared on the May 18, 2000, edition of WWF Smackdown during a taping in Detroit to drink beer with The Acolytes, and on the May 29 edition of Raw Is War, helping Too Cool win their only WWF Tag Team Championship in 2000 from Edge and Christian. He was also featured posthumously in the animated filmOsmosis Jones as a part of Kidney Rock.
Death
On November 16, 2000, one week after he had turned 26, Calleja died in his sleep from celiac disease complications while visiting his parents in his hometown of Taylor, Michigan. His mother found him dead the next morning. Kid Rock released a statement on Calleja's death: "Family and friends are everything; without them, all of the fame and fortune means nothing. We have lost part of our family. Joey gave us, and the world, his love. He brought a smile to everyone who has ever known or seen him. In a world full of confusion, Joey made all of us laugh. No matter what color, religion, race, or beliefs we have, he made us all smile. He gave us the gift of joy. Joey, thank you. We will never forget you. We love you." Rock dedicated his 2001 album Cocky to Calleja. Calleja was also scheduled to record a solo album before his death.
