Mississippi bluesman Leo “Bud” Welch’s musical talents were recognized at a very young age when he first learned to play blues guitar. By the time he was a teenager, Welch could be also be found at the local Baptist church performing gospel music. His dedication to both sacred and secular music remained strong throughout his life. He played at local juke joints, opening for the likes of B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, and John Lee Hooker, and also appeared on the regional television show Black Gospel Express. But the life of a professional musician eluded Welch, who was a lumberjack by trade in the northern Mississippi hill country. That all changed when his debut gospel album, Sabougla Voices, was released in 2014 when Welch was 82, followed a year later by the secular album, I Don’t Prefer No Blues. Welch’s discovery as an octogenarian steeped in traditional blues and gospel music propelled him to a world stage where he came to the attention of Dan Auerbach, who produced this project. Stream the album now.
