Will Weldon

William "Casey Bill" Weldon (February 2, 1901 or December 10, 1909 – September 28, 1972) was an American country blues musician.

Some details of Weldon's life are unconfirmed. According to some sources, he was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and later lived and worked in Chicago. He reportedly made his way to Chicago via Kansas City, which gave rise to his nickname, a version of K.C. He was one of the early musicians who recorded playing slide guitar. He played upbeat, hokum and country blues tunes. Playing a National steel guitar flat on his lap Hawaiian style, he was known as the "Hawaiian Guitar Wizard".

According to some sources, Weldon was married to the singer and guitarist Memphis Minnie in the 1920s, but this is now believed to be a misidentification. Only recently it has been widely accepted that he is not the musician, Will Weldon, who recorded between 1927 and 1928 as a member of the Memphis Jug Band.

Weldon cut over 60 sides for Bluebird and Vocalion. He was also an active session guitarist, performing on records by Teddy Darby, Bumble Bee Slim, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Memphis Minnie. On Memphis Minnie's last recording for Bluebird Records, in October 1935, Weldon accompanied her for the first time. He played on two sides, "When the Sun Goes Down, Part 2" and "Hustlin' Woman Blues". He had solo hits with his two best-known songs, "Somebody Done Changed the Lock on That Door" and "We Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town".

According to some sources, after his divorce from Memphis Minnie, he married the blues singer Geeshie Wiley. They disappeared from the public eye soon after, and he had stopped recording by 1938. He is believed to be the William Weldon who died in Kansas City in 1972.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 10, 1909 (Pine Bluff), Died 1960

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, songwriter, mandolin, composer

Notes: Listing for Will Weldon, also known as Kansas City Bill Weldon, or K. C. Bill Weldon.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 50 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-41891 10-in. 2/13/1928 She stays out all night long Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-64732 10-in. 11/26/1930 Round and round Memphis Sheiks Vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BVE-64733 10-in. 11/26/1930 This will bring you back Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BVE-64740 10-in. 11/28/1930 Move that thing Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BVE-64741 10-in. 11/28/1930 You got me rollin' Carolina Peanut Boys Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk instrumentalist, mandolin  
Victor BS-96220 10-in. 10/31/1935 My stove won't work Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-96221 10-in. 10/31/1935 Somebody changed the lock on my door Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-96222 10-in. 10/31/1935 Long-eared mule Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-96223 10-in. 10/31/1935 Somebody's been talkin' to you Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-96224 10-in. 10/31/1935 Howlin' dog blues Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-96225 10-in. 10/31/1935 Your wagon's worn out now Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Victor BS-100307 10-in. 4/1/1936 Let me be your butcher Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Victor BS-100308 10-in. 4/1/1936 I got a letter this morning Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Victor BS-100309 10-in. 4/1/1936 I'm a stranger in your town Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Victor BS-100310 10-in. 4/1/1936 Has my gal been here Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Victor BS-100323 10-in. 4/2/1936 Blues everywhere I go Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-100324 10-in. 4/2/1936 Somebody's got to go Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-100325 10-in. 4/2/1936 Casey blues Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-100326 10-in. 4/2/1936 I'se just a bad luck man Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
Victor BS-030808 10-in. 12/16/1938 I believe you're cheatin' on me Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist  
Victor BS-030809 10-in. 12/16/1938 Way down in Louisiana Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist  
Victor BS-030810 10-in. 12/16/1938 You gotta do your duty Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist  
Victor BS-030811 10-in. 12/16/1938 Midnight blues Casey Bill Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist  
Victor BS-074062 10-in. 2/10/1942 How can you love me Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band composer  
Victor BS-074648 10-in. 7/30/1942 I'm gonna leave you on the outskirts of town Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet songwriter  
(Results 26-50 of 50 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Weldon, Will," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210864.

Weldon, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210864.

"Weldon, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210864

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