Born in Jackson, Mississippi but a nearly lifelong resident of East Chicago, Indiana, Carl Weathersby draws on the famous blues traditions of both his native and adopted regions in crafting his unique, critically acclaimed sound.

Nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for Best New Blues Artist for his 1996 debut release, Don’t Lay Your Blues on Me, Weathersby has gone on to record several more albums. They have earned him a growing, enthusiastic fan base and additional Handy Award nominations for Best Blues Instrumentalist—Guitar, Blues Artist Most Deserving Wider Recognition, and Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year.

In this performance, taped at the W.C. Handy Blues Festival in Henderson, KY, Weathersby and his band, Vital Support, mix Southern charm, soulful vocals, and fierce guitar playing in a show that is a testament to his musical abilities and his determination to save the blues through innovation. “The blues has got to change, or it is going to die,” Weathersby said in explaining his attempt to modify classical blues with his own unique imprint. The result is an amalgamation of influences that work together to make Weathersby’s sound one of the strongest in the genre today.