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- Guitarist and Singer Curley James "Slim Gordon" Weaver, 1906
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Curley James Weaver (March 25, 1906 - September 20, 1962) was an American blues musician, also known as Slim Gordon.
He was born in Covington, Georgia, United States, and raised on a farm near Porterdale. His mother, Savannah "Dip" Shepard Weaver, was a well respected pianist and guitarist, who taught Curley together with her friend's sons, "Barbecue Bob" Hicks and Charlie Hicks. The three formed a group with harmonica player Eddie Mapp, and played in the local area.
In 1925 Weaver moved to Atlanta, working as a laborer and playing on the streets and at various social events. In 1928, he first recorded with Columbia Records, later releasing records on several different record labels. Although he recorded on his own during the 1920s and 1930s, first in the style taught by his mother and later with the spreading Piedmont style, he was best known for duets with Blind Willie McTell - with whom he worked until the 1950s - as well as Barbecue Bob, Fred McMullen and harmonica and guitar player Buddy Moss. He was also a member of the recording groups The Georgia Browns (Weaver, Moss, McMullen) and The Georgia Cotton Pickers (Bob, Weaver, Moss), examples of the sort of bands that played house parties in those days.
After World War II he recorded in New York and Atlanta both solo, and with McTell. His final recordings were in 1949.
Weaver lost his sight in the 1950s after working on the railroad, and died of uremia in Almon, Georgia, in 1962, at the age of 56.
His daughter Cora Mae Bryant (born May 1, 1926) continued in her father's tradition as a blues musician until her own death in late 2008.