Curley Weaver
| Curley Weaver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Curley James Weaver |
| Also known as | Slim Gordon[1] |
| Born |
March 25, 1906 Covington, Georgia, United States |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Died |
September 20, 1962 (aged 56) Covington, Georgia |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1925–1959 |
| Associated acts | Blind Willie McTell, Barbecue Bob, the Georgia Browns, the Georgia Cotton Pickers |
Curley James Weaver (March 25, 1906 – September 20, 1962)[2] was an American blues musician, also known as Slim Gordon.
Biography
Early years
Weaver was born in Covington, Georgia,[3] and raised on a farm near Porterdale. His mother, Savannah "Dip" Shepard Weaver, was a well-respected pianist and guitarist, who taught Curley and her friend's sons, "Barbecue Bob" and Charlie Hicks.[4] The three formed a group with harmonica player Eddie Mapp and played locally.[4]
Early career
Weaver moved to Atlanta in 1925, where he worked as a laborer and performed on the streets and at social events.[1] He first recorded in 1928, for Columbia Records, and subsequently released records on several different labels. He recorded on his own during the 1920s and 1930s, first in the style taught by his mother and later in the spreading Piedmont style, but he was best known for duets with Blind Willie McTell, with whom he worked until the 1950s, and for his work with Barbecue Bob, Fred McMullen, and the harmonica and guitar player Buddy Moss.[4] He was also a member of the recording groups the Georgia Browns (Weaver, Moss, and McMullen) and the Georgia Cotton Pickers (Bob, Weaver, and Moss), examples of the sort of bands that played at house parties in those days.[4]
Later years
After World War II Weaver recorded in New York and Atlanta, both as a solo artist and with McTell.[4] His final recordings were in 1949. He lost his sight in the 1950s after working on the railroad. He died of uremia[2] in Covington, Georgia,[5] in 1962, at the age of 56.
Children
His daughter Cora Mae Bryant (May 1, 1926 – October 30, 2008)[6] continued in her father's tradition as a blues musician until her death.
References
- 1 2 "Curly [sic] Weaver". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
- 1 2 Doc Rock. "The 1960s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
- ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 270. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 182. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Curley Weaver | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
- ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 274. ISBN 978-0313344237.