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` CARL WEATHERSBY (24 FEBRUARY 1953, AUGUST 9,
2024 (AGED 71))

Born Carlton Weathersby in Jackson, Mississippi. Carl was an
American electric blues vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. He
worked with Albert King and Billy Branch, among others.

Mixing Southern charm, soulful vocals, and fierce guitar-
playing, Carl played the blues, from down-and-dirty to
scintillating Albert King influenced chops.

Carl joined the US army and after
serving in Vietnam, found

employment as a steel mill worker,
as a prison guard and even a police

officer.

Weathersby was Albert King's
rhythm guitarist between 1979 and

1982, and then spent some 15 years
with Billy Branch's Sons of Blues as
lead guitarist before striking out on

his own. His debut solo album on
Evidence Records, “Don't Lay Your
Blues On Me”, was nominated for the

W.C. Handy 'Blues Album of the Year'
award.

He then started filling-in for the
guitarist of the Sons of Blues, Carlos
Johnson, who Weathersby described

as “a pretty shaky guy, you know. He
could show up just as easy as he
couldn’t show up…” Eventually the

band hired Weathersby as their full-
time guitarist, a position he held for
the next fifteen years.

Billy Branch wrote on his Facebook
page “Over the years I watched as Carl’s guitar and singing skills continued to

develop and mature, ultimately making him one of the most skilled and dynamic
bluesmen of our times. His vocals were heartfelt and passionate. His guitar skills
were unmatched. He had come into his own.”

Ian K McKenzie