Curley Weaver
Curley Weaver (born March 26, 1906 in Covington , Georgia - † September 20, 1962 in Almon , Georgia), known as the Georgia Guitar Wizard ( guitar wizard from Georgia ), was an American blues guitarist and singer. Weaver was best known in the duo with Blind Willie McTell . Both were guitar virtuosos, McTell on 12-string, Weaver on 6-string guitar.
As a child, Weaver learned to play the guitar from his mother, Savanah Shepard, from whom the brothers Charlie (known as Laughing Charley Lincoln ) and Robert Hicks (known as Barbecue Bob ) also learned. Weaver learned to play slide guitar from legendary early blues men, Nehemiah Smith and Blind Buddy Keith. At the age of 19 he moved to Atlanta, along with harmonica player Eddie Mapp . The two teamed up with the Hicks brothers and played music in bars and clubs.
In 1928, Weaver made his first recordings of Sweet Petunia and No No Blues on the recommendation of Barbecue Bob . More recordings followed, both solo and with Eddie Mapp, Barbecue Bob and the Georgia Cotton Pickers . He met the 16-year-old harmonica player Buddy Moss , with whom he appeared as the Georgia Browns . However, Weaver had his most fruitful collaboration of more than 20 years with Blind Willie McTell .
The 1930s were difficult years for Curley Weaver: the Great Depression crippled the record market, Barbecue Bob died young, Eddie Mapp was murdered, and 21-year-old Moss went to prison for years. Weaver continued to make music, including with McTell, and later again with Moss. He went blind in the late 1950s.
Curley Weaver died in 1962 and did not live to see the blues revival of the 1960s.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Weaver, Curley |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues guitarist and singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 26, 1906 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Covington , Georgia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 20th September 1962 |
| Place of death | Almon , Georgia |