Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Bill Gaither

 
Artist: Bill Gaither
 
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Influenced By:

Leroy Carr

Worked With:

Tampa Red

Formal Connection With:

Honey Hill
  • Born: April 21, 1910, Belmont, KY
  • Active: '20s, '30s, '40s
  • Genres: Blues
  • Instrument: Guitar, Vocals, Bass
  • Representative Albums: "Bill Gaither: The Essential," "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 5," "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 4"

Biography

Blues guitarist Bill Gaither cut well over a hundred sides for Decca and OKeh between 1931 and 1941. Gaither was close to the blues pianist Leroy Carr, and following Carr's death in 1935, he recorded as Leroy's Buddy for a time. A fine guitarist who possessed a warm, expressive voice, Gaither was also at times a gifted and inventive lyricist. He was often partnered with pianist George "Honey" Hill, and the duo patterned themselves after Carr and his guitarist, Scrapper Blackwell. Among Gaither's many sides are three tributes to Carr ("Life of Leroy Carr," "Leroy Carr's Blues," and the magnificent "After the Sun's Gone Down"). Born on April 21, 1910, in Belmont, KY (some sources have the birth year as 1905), Gaither is buried in New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, although the exact date of his death is not known. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a word or phrase...
All Community Q&A Reference topics

 
Wikipedia: Bill Gaither (musician)
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Bill Gaither
Also known as "Little Bill" Gaither
Leroy's Buddy
Born circa 1910[1]
Died Uncertain; probably 1970[1]
Genre(s) Blues
Years active 1920s-1940s
Label(s) Various

Bill Gaither (April 21, 1910 or 1905[2] or 1908,[3] Belmont, Kentucky — 1956[4] or more likely 1970[5]) sometimes known as "Little Bill" Gaither or Leroy's Buddy,[6] was an American blues guitarist and singer.

Biography

Gaither recorded hundred of songs for labels such as Decca, Arhoolie and Okeh.[1] He was often partnered with the pianist George "Honey" Hill, and the duo patterned themselves after Leroy Carr and his guitarist, Scrapper Blackwell.[2] One of Gaither's most famous blues songs was "Champ Joe Louis", recorded on June 23, 1938,[7] the day after Louis won his rematch against Max Schmeling. Ethnomusicologists have cited[8] Gaither among a group of important but understudied 20th century musicians. His blues lyrics have been appreciated as poetry.[9] Gaither is buried[10] in New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, where jazz musician Wes Montgomery is also interred. Gaither was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.[11]

See also

  • The Encyclopedia of Louisville, ed. by J. E. Kleber
  • The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, by T. Russell
  • The Blues, by H. Elmer, e.g. p. 49

References

  1. ^ a b c Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 113. ISBN 1-85868-255-X. 
  2. ^ a b allmusic ((( Bill Gaither > Overview )))
  3. ^ www2.ocn.ne.jp/~jive/blues/1999.html
  4. ^ www2.ocn.ne.jp/~jive/blues/1999.html
  5. ^ World-Wide Web Resources - Notable Kentucky African Americans
  6. ^ e.g., Decca 7818: Racket Blues / Wintertime Blues
  7. ^ WAIL! The CBZ Journal (Apr 2001)
  8. ^ "Blues Research: Problems and Possibilities" Paul Oliver, Journal of Musicology Vol. 2 No. 4 (Autumn, 1983), pp. 377-390
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ Kentuckiana Blues Society * Foree Wells Memorial Page
  11. ^ Adherents.com

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bill Gaither (musician)".  Read more