Sylvester Weaver

Sylvester Weaver (July 25, 1897 – April 4, 1960) was an American blues guitar player and a pioneer of country blues. He was the son of Walter and Mattie (nee Embers or Embry) Weaver. Walter Weaver's 1952 Kentucky death certificate indicates that he was born in Port Gibson, Mississippi. That area's economy was heavily agricultural, relying on African American labor to produce a profitable cotton crop. After Walter Weaver migrated to Louisville, Kentucky, Port Gibson would play a role in the preservation and dissemination of a blues tradition indigenous to the Mississippi Delta. This tradition, in the form in which Walter Weaver experienced it, likely was a foundation upon which Sylvester Weaver built his unique performance style.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 25, 1897 (Louisville), Died April 4, 1960 (Louisville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer, songwriter, banjo-guitar, lyricist

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh 8582 10-in. 3/19/1924 Everybody's got the blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar instrumentalist, banjo-guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 8583 10-in. 3/19/1924 My man blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar instrumentalist, banjo-guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 8584 10-in. 3/19/1924 Pleading blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar instrumentalist, banjo-guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 8585 10-in. 3/19/1924 Every woman needs a man Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 8593 Not documented Mar. 1924 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 8594 Not documented Mar. 1924 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 8595 10-in. Mar. 1924 Got to leave my home blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 8596 10-in. Mar. 1924 Poor me blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar instrumentalist, banjo-guitar, songwriter  
OKeh 9023 10-in. Mar. 1925 Can't find nobody to do like my old daddy do Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 9024 10-in. Mar. 1925 I'm sorry blues Sara Martin ; Charles Washington ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 9026 Not documented Mar. 1925 [Unknown title(s)] Instrumental Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 9027 10-in. Mar. 1925 Steel string blues Instrumental Trio Instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 9029 10-in. Mar. 1925 Strange lovin' blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 9030 10-in. Mar. 1925 I can always tell when a man is treatin' me cool Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71980 10-in. October 1923 Longing for daddy blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71981 10-in. October 1923 I've got to go and leave my daddy behind Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71986 10-in. 11/2/1923 Guitar blues Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo composer, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71997 10-in. 11/2/1923 Guitar rag Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71998 10-in. 11/2/1923 Roamin' blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-71999 10-in. 11/2/1923 Good-bye blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-72265 10-in. Jan. 1924 Jail house blues Virginia Liston Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-72582 10-in. May 1924 Weaver's blues Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh S-72585 10-in. 5/29/1924 Smoketown strut Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh S-72586 10-in. 5/29/1924 If I don't find my brown I won't be back at all Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar (take A); with piano (take B) instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter  
OKeh S-72590 10-in. June 1924 Mixing them up in "C" Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh S-72591 10-in. June 1924 I'm busy and you can't come in Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh W80700 10-in. 4/6/1927 Where shall I be? Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver ; Hayes B. Withers Mixed vocal trio, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80701 10-in. 4/6/1927 I'm gonna wait on the Lord Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver ; Hayes B. Withers Mixed vocal trio, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80702 10-in. 4/6/1927 There's plenty room 'way in the Kingdom Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver ; Hayes B. Withers Mixed vocal trio, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80703 10-in. 4/6/1927 I am happy in Jesus Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver ; Hayes B. Withers Mixed vocal trio, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80704 10-in. 4/7/1927 Gonna ramble blues Sally Roberts Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80705 10-in. 4/7/1927 Teasing brown blues Sally Roberts Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80720 10-in. 4/12/1927 True love blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh W80721 10-in. 4/12/1927 Poor boy blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, composer  
OKeh W80722 10-in. 4/12/1927 Six-string banjo piece Sylvester Weaver Banjo-guitar solo instrumentalist, banjo-guitar  
OKeh W80723 10-in. 4/12/1927 Damfino stump Sylvester Weaver Banjo-guitar solo instrumentalist, banjo-guitar, composer  
OKeh W80727 10-in. 4/13/1927 Guitar rag Sylvester Weaver Guitar solo instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh W80803 10-in. 4/30/1927 Black cat blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80804 10-in. 4/30/1927 Jam up too tight Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80805 10-in. 4/30/1927 A worried woman's blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W80806 10-in. 4/30/1927 Stomping Weaver's blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81292 10-in. 8/30/1927 Loving is what I crave Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81293 10-in. 8/30/1927 Useless blues Sally Roberts ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81294 10-in. 8/30/1927 Black hearse blues Sally Roberts ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81295 10-in. 8/30/1927 Orn'ry blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81299 10-in. 8/31/1927 Dad's blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist, vocalist  
OKeh W81400 10-in. 8/31/1927 What makes a man blue Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
OKeh W81401 10-in. 8/31/1927 Can't be trusted blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
OKeh W81402 10-in. 8/31/1927 Penitentiary bound blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
OKeh W81403 10-in. 8/31/1927 Off center blues Sylvester Weaver Guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81404 10-in. 8/31/1927 Soft steel piston Walter Beasley ; Sylvester Weaver Guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81868 10-in. 11/26/1927 Chittlin' rag blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
OKeh W81872 10-in. 11/26/1927 Cross-eyed blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81873 10-in. 11/26/1927 Garlic blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81875 10-in. 11/27/1927 Railroad porter blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
OKeh W81876 10-in. 11/27/1927 Me and my tapeworm Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81877 10-in. 11/27/1927 Rock pile blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81878 10-in. 11/27/1927 Devil blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81879 10-in. 11/27/1927 Polecat blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81880 10-in. 11/27/1927 Alligator blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81881 10-in. 11/27/1927 Nappy headed blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81882 10-in. 11/27/1927 Race horse blues Helen Humes Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81883 10-in. 11/27/1927 Bottle neck blues Walter Beasley ; Sylvester Weaver Guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar, composer  
OKeh W81884 10-in. 11/27/1927 St. Louis blues Walter Beasley ; Sylvester Weaver Guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81897 10-in. 11/30/1927 Georgia skin Walter Beasley Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81898 10-in. 11/30/1927 Southern man blues Walter Beasley Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81899 10-in. 11/30/1927 Toad frog blues Walter Beasley Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81900 10-in. 11/30/1927 Sore feet blues Walter Beasley Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W81901 10-in. 11/30/1927 Black spider blues Sylvester Weaver Male vocal solo, with guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Weaver, Sylvester," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110648.

Weaver, Sylvester. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110648.

"Weaver, Sylvester." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110648

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