Casey Bill Weldon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Casey Bill Weldon
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One of the only known photos of Weldon
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Weldon |
| Born | February 2, 1901 or December 10, 1909 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | September 28, 1972 (aged 62 or 71) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Country blues |
| Instruments | Vocals, slide guitar |
| Years active | Presumably 1927 – ca.1940 |
| Labels | Vocalion, Bluebird |
William "Casey Bill" Weldon (born February 2, 1901, or December 10, 1909 – died September 28, 1972) was an American country blues musician. He was known for his unique slide guitar playing style.
Not everything about Weldon's life is fully known. He was likely born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in the United States. Later, he lived and worked in Chicago, Illinois. He got his nickname, "Casey Bill," because he traveled through Kansas City on his way to Chicago. "K.C." became "Casey."
Casey Bill Weldon was one of the first musicians to record songs using a slide guitar. He played upbeat country blues tunes. He was often called the "Hawaiian Guitar Wizard." This was because he played his National steel guitar flat on his lap, just like Hawaiian musicians do.
For a long time, people thought he was married to the famous blues singer Memphis Minnie. However, we now know this was a mistake. It's also now clear that he was not the same musician named Will Weldon who played with the Memphis Jug Band between 1927 and 1928.
His Music and Recordings
Casey Bill Weldon recorded more than 60 songs. He made these recordings for record labels like Bluebird and Vocalion. He also played guitar for other musicians. He helped record songs for artists such as Teddy Darby, Bumble Bee Slim, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Memphis Minnie.
In October 1935, Weldon played on Memphis Minnie's last recordings for Bluebird Records. He played on two songs: "When the Sun Goes Down, Part 2" and "Hustlin' Woman Blues." Casey Bill Weldon also had his own popular songs. His two most famous hits were "Somebody Done Changed the Lock on That Door" and "We Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town".
After a few years, Casey Bill Weldon stopped recording music around 1938. He is believed to be the William Weldon who passed away in Kansas City in 1972.
His Unique Style
Casey Bill Weldon played his National steel guitar flat on his lap. This was a special way of playing, similar to how Hawaiian musicians play. His style of playing had a big impact on the Chicago blues sound that was just starting to become popular.
