Leo Bud Welch

Leo "Bud" Welch, born in Calhoun County, Mississippi, 1932, was a blues/gospel guitarist and singer. In 1947 at age 15, he could play guitar and sing well enough to perform in front of an audience. He received praise and blessings of many elder guitar players. And he was offered an audition by BB King - but could not afford the trip to Memphis. However, Bud stayed with the blues till 1975 when he mostly converted to gospel. But his musicianship didn't pay the bills. His main occupation was being a lumberjack for 30 years. Welch's international music career started at the age of 82, in 2014, with the release of the album "Sabougla Voices" by Big Legal Mess Records. His subsequent studio album, "I Don't Prefer No Blues", also recorded for Big Legal Mess, was released in 2015. Austrian filmmakers Wolfgang Pfoser-Almer and Stefan Wolner made several trips to Mississippi following Leo "Bud" Welch as a performer and private person. Their documentary, "Late Blossom Blues" premiered at the Clarksdale Film Festival, Delta Cinema, January 28, 2017. Leo "Bud" Welch passed away on December 19, 2017. "I don't know what you come to do" is carved in his stone at Double Springs Church Cemetery, Bruce, MS.