Bill Weiner came from a musical family.  His grandfather played classical piano and as a young man played in the orchestra pit during silent movies.  Bill listened to his grandpa play when he was young.

     Bill played classical piano for a brief period when he was 5.  In high school he listened to rock n' roll, folk music singing groups, rhythm and blues, bebop jazz, and folk blues.

     In 1962 he met a man who would give him his musical direction from then on.  Mike Stewart (aka Backwards Sam Firk)  was his guru. Mike worked for Nick Perls (owner of the Yazoo record co. who reissued some 67  33rpm records of country blues 78's). Mike collected his 78's down south and bought and sold them for a living. He and another man, Tom Hoskins were the ones who rediscovered Mississippi John Hurt by going to Avalon Mississippi to find him.  Mike was a great country blues player who made a tape of himself and gave it plus a tape of his favorite country blues to Bill.  From these tapes Bill learned to play country blues.

    Bill has taught country blues at music schools and at his home. He plays and has taught 6 string and 12 string guitar.  He started a blues society in the late 80's but it was short lived. He was in a band with Ernie Hawkins and L.E.McCollough that played Irish, country blues, and folk music in the 80's. Bill started his own band The Monongahela Sheiks that ran 10 years, 1998-2008  They played blues and jugband.  Bill made his first CD,  Jucin' the Blues  in  2006.  He is now retired from his day job and putting more time into playing and singing country blues.