Bill Gaither (blues musician)

Bill Gaither
Also known as "Little Bill" Gaither
Leroy's Buddy
Born ca. 1910[1]
Died Uncertain; probably 1970[1]
Genres Blues
Years active 1920s-1940s
Labels Various

Bill Gaither (April 21, 1910 or 1905[2] or 1908,[3] Belmont, Kentucky 1956[3] or more likely 1970[4]) sometimes known as "Little Bill" Gaither or Leroy's Buddy,[5] was an American blues guitarist and singer.

Biography

Gaither recorded hundred of songs for labels such as Decca, Arhoolie and Okeh.[1] He often partnered with the pianist George "Honey" Hill.[2] One of Gaither's most famous blues songs was "Champ Joe Louis", recorded on June 23, 1938,[6] the day after Louis won his rematch against Max Schmeling. Ethnomusicologists have cited[7] that Gaither among a group of important, but understudied, 20th century musicians. His blues lyrics have been appreciated as poetry.[8] Gaither is buried[9] in New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, where jazz musician Wes Montgomery is also interred.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 113. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  2. 1 2 Steve Leggett (1910-04-21). "Bill Gaither | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  3. 1 2 "Blues Calendar". Ocn.ne.jp. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  4. Archived August 27, 2005, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. e.g., Decca 7818: Racket Blues / Wintertime Blues
  6. "WAIL! The CBZ Journal (Apr 2001)". Cyberboxingzone.com. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  7. "Blues Research: Problems and Possibilities" Paul Oliver, Journal of Musicology Vol. 2 No. 4 (Autumn, 1983), pp. 377-390
  8. Perfect in Their Art: Poems on Boxing from Homer to Ali Michael Waters, Robert Hedin, editors. ISBN 0-8093-2531-4. Southern Illinois Univ. Press. 2003. p. 47
  9. Debbie D. Wilson. "Kentuckiana Blues Society * Foree Wells Memorial Page". Members.aye.net. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
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