Casey Bill Weldon
William "Casey Bill" Weldon (born July 10, 1909 in Pine Bluff , Arkansas , † after 1960) was an American blues musician who was best known for his skills on the steel guitar .
Weldon made a large number of recordings between 1935 and 1938, often together with other musicians, mainly on the record labels Vocalion and Bluebird . In the 1920s he married Memphis Minnie , with whom he also recorded records. Only recently has it been recognized that "Casey Bill" Weldon is not identical to William "Will" Weldon, who made recordings as a member of the Memphis Jug Band in the 1920s.
He used a national guitar in the so-called Hawaii style , that is, laid flat on his lap, which is why he was also known as the Hawaiian Guitar Wizard . His solos in this technique were emotional and unmistakable, they influenced the then emerging Chicago blues .
His most famous composition We Gonna Move (To The Outskirts Of Town) jumped the then existing line between blues and jazz and has been covered by a number of musicians, including Count Basie , Big Bill Broonzy , Ray Charles , Jazz Gillum , Louis Jordan , BB King , Leadbelly , Jimmy Rushing , Muddy Waters and Jimmy Witherspoon . Weldon also wrote Somebody Done Changed the Lock on My Door , covered by Louis Jordan (1945) and later by BB King.
His nickname "Casey Bill" or "KC Bill" (you can find it on the labels of his early records) is a corruption of Kansas City .
Web links
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Weldon, Casey Bill |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Weldon, William (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 10, 1909 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pine Bluff , Arkansas , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | after 1960 |