WILLIAM "BILL" WEINER

Every time I play my guitar I think of Bill. When I hear a new blues tune I want to pick up the phone and call him. But I can't. I really miss him.

I worked for this wonderful man for 20 years. He always said we were special because we were born in the same year, the year with the funny silver penny. He even bought me one at a flea market to remind me of him. My best memory of Bill was when he came to our pig roast up the country. He would sit on our front porch with all the little children huddled around him and play his guitar. They had no idea what blues were but they sat there for hours and listen to him. He never spoke a bad word about anyone and always had a smile on his face. About two weeks before his passing, he wrote me on Facebook asking how me and John were, never even letting on that he was ill, just always thinking about others. We will miss you Bill. R.I.P.

I met Bill in 1965 at the Shady Grove coffee house. He was with Ernie Hawkins and Rich Burdman. Eric Marchbein was there as well, as John Wells (deceased) and David Magram. I was a happy camper and soon took up playing folk and country blues guitar with Ernie and Bill's assistance. Although not a Davis specialist, Bill helped me learn a Rev. Gary Davis piece (rag in A major) referred to lossely as Maple Leaf Rag i(nspired by the piano rag). I still play it and remember the lesson at his apartment on Filmore St.in Oakland. gratefully to this day. He also helped me with "Slow Drag" while disclaiming any particular insight on Davis music in deference to Ernie. Bill was very polite at all times...

I worked at Basic for 20 years as their copywriter. Bill and I were trying to get a Basic reunion together last year. He said as soon as he felt better, we would finalize plans. I'm so sorry we couldn't get that together before he passed away. He will be greatly missed. My sympathy to the entire Weiner family. Rest in Peace, Bill!

Bill was my boss and friend at Basic Products for about 20 years. He always said that we were special because we shared the same birth year, the year of the funny looking penny. He even bought me one at a flea market to remind me of him. He was a very likable and a funny guy. My favorite memories of him was when he would come to our house in the country for our pig roasts. I can still see him sitting on the porch playing his guitar for my grandchildren and all of the other little children, even though they had no idea what the blues were all about. He would send me emails every so often asking how me and John were. That was Bill, always thinking about others. R.I.P. dear friend. You will be missed by all.

Bill was my first guitar teacher when I moved to Pittsburgh in 1990. He gave classes through Calliope, and then graciously continued lessons at his home for several more years. Over the years, I've gone to watch him play at many locations around the city. Bill was a kind man, with an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and devoted to country blues the way it was originally played. I will miss him a lot, and remember him every time I play one of the songs I learned from him.

Bill was my neighbor in Brighton Heights when I lived in that area. We discovered our social circles also overlapped at times, and I found him to be a kind and interesting man. My condolences to his family & friends.

I knew of Bill long before I met him. Word at IUP was about this fantastic blues guy in Pittsburgh called Bill Weiner. I heard him play in one of the many coffee houses in Pittsburgh in 1969. We became close friends. Bill was not only a musician's musician he was intelligent and kind. We talked of many things including philosophy. My condolences to the many who loved him. I will really miss him.

A VERY LONG FRIEND OF MINE. WORKED WITH HIM AT BASIC PRODUCTS BACK IN 1965. ALSO SPENT A LOT OF PERSONAL TIME WITH HIM. A WONDERFUL GUY GOD BLESS HIM