| Bill Gaither | |
| Birth Name: | William Arthur Gaither |
| Alias: | "Little Bill" Gaither Leroy's Buddy |
| Birth Place: | Belmont, Bullitt County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 21 April 1910 |
| Death Place: | Indianapolis, U.S. |
| Instrument: | Guitar |
| Genre: | Blues |
| 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]