Bill Gaither | |
---|---|
Birth name | William Arthur Gaither |
Also known as | "Little Bill" Gaither Leroy's Buddy |
Born | Belmont, Bullitt County, Kentucky, U.S. | April 21, 1910
Died | October 30, 1970 Indianapolis, U.S. | (aged 60)
Genres | Blues |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1920s–1940s |
William Arthur Gaither (April 21, 1910 – October 30, 1970), [1] sometimes known as "Little Bill" Gaither or Leroy's Buddy, [2] was an American blues guitarist and singer.
Born in Belmont, Bullitt County, Kentucky, [1] Gaither recorded over one hundred songs in the 1930s for labels such as Decca and Okeh. [3] He often wrote and recorded with the pianist George "Honey" Hill. After his friend Leroy Carr's death in 1935, Gaither was often credited as "Leroy's Buddy". [4]
One of Gaither's most famous blues songs was "Champ Joe Louis", recorded on June 23, 1938, [5] the day after Louis won his rematch against Max Schmeling. The blues scholar Paul Oliver has cited Gaither among a group of important, but understudied, 20th century musicians. [6] His blues lyrics have been appreciated as poetry. [7]
Gaither ran a radio repair shop in Louisville, Kentucky, for some time. [1] He died in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1970, [1] and is buried in New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis. [4]
He is not to be confused with another musician, William Augustus "Bill" Gaither (1927–1985), who recorded with Roy Milton. [8]