Steve Weakley

Steve Weakley

(November 10, 1952 - Present )

He attended Crispus Attucks High School. His first instrument was the cello.

On a family trip to Gould, Arkansas (near Little Rock) to visit his Grandmother, Steve came upon some guys in a nearby rice field, sitting around a 55-gallon drum burning trash and drinking moonshine.  They were playing the blues.  At this point, Steve decided he wanted to play music. His first guitar cost $14, which he bought from a local pawn shop, it took the family 3 months to pay for it. Steve would frequent a record store almost daily, there he heard a Country Swing band called The Harlan Brother.  He picked up some early techniques from them. 

Early on, Steve’s first guitar influence was Chuck Berry.  As he gravitated towards jazz, influences included Kenny Burrell, Naptown’s Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, and George Benson.

Funk Inc is highly regarded in soul-jazz circles. The group was founded in Indianapolis in 1969 by organist Bobby Watley, who recruited tenor sax man Eugene Barr, guitarist Steve Weakley, drummer Jimmy Munford, and conga player Cecil Hunt.  Funk Incorporated sent a tape to Prestige's A & R department in March 1971 postmarked 'Indianapolis' along with a note of recommendation from Brother Jack McDuff.  In the early 1970s, the original line-up came to the attention of Bob Porter, a well-respected producer who signed Funk, Inc. to Prestige and paved the way for the band to record five albums for that label.

Steve’s first group was called the Soul Citations which was more rock and R&B. One of his first gigs was on the main stage at the Walker Theater.  

He also played with the Girl Watchers, which included Indy saxophonist Hank Hankerson.

The Don Austin Organ Trio was the first jazz group Steve played with. The band included Chico Crawford, Don Austin and Steve.  From there onto Funk Inc.

Steve also played at the Surfside 7, The HoneyDripper, and The 19th Hole.

He took a trip overseas with Al Coleman & the Three Souls and played in Zimbabwe in or around 1998.