Weldon Gourd
Weldon Gourd has spent much of the past 60 years entertaining and fiddling throughout the Midwest with his brother Gene who plays guitar. Weldon has been a member of the Fiddler’s Association of Iowa for over fifty years and is also a member of the Professional Musicians and Entertainers Club of Iowa.
Weldon and Gene have been affiliated with the Iowa Arts Council and gave presentations in schools, talking to kids about fiddling history, and playing for students. In 1976, they traveled to Washington, D.C. as the Midwest’s Representative for the American Folklife Festival. In 1980, they traveled to England as part of a cultural exchange. In the 1990’s, Weldon was inducted into The America’s Old Time Music Hall of Fame in Avoca, Iowa.
Besides playing many shows for benefits, nursing home and other civic events, Weldon has been crowned the Grand Champion Fiddler at the Iowa State Fair five times. He has served as the emcee for this contest for over twenty years now.
Weldon is always willing to help others learn the art of fiddling. He always helps people at contests, music events, or at monthly association meetings. Eventhough Weldon has had much success fiddling, he always has been very humble.
