Bill Gaither (musician)

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Bill Gaither
Also known as "Little Bill" Gaither
Leroy's Buddy
Born c.1910
Died 1956? 1970?
Genre(s) Blues
Years active 1920s-1940s
Label(s) Various

Bill Gaither (April 21, 1910 or 1905 [1] or 1908 [2] in Belmont, KY - 1956[3] 1970 [4]), sometimes known as "Little Bill" Gaither or Leroy's Buddy[5], was a blues guitarist and singer. Gaither recorded hundred of songs for labels such as Decca, Arhoolie and OKeh. One of his 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] 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, where jazz legend Wes Montgomery is also interred.

[edit] 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ allmusic ((( Bill Gaither > Overview )))
  2. ^ www2.ocn.ne.jp/~jive/blues/1999.html
  3. ^ www2.ocn.ne.jp/~jive/blues/1999.html
  4. ^ World-Wide Web Resources - Notable Kentucky African Americans
  5. ^ e.g., Decca 7818: Racket Blues / Wintertime Blues
  6. ^ WAIL! The CBZ Journal (Apr 2001)
  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. ^ Kentuckiana Blues Society * Foree Wells Memorial Page
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