TOP PHOTO: Musician Phil Leadbetter, known as “Uncle Phil,” the Knoxville native had a huge following and influenced blue grass around the world. 

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – There will be a benefit Fri., Oct. 29 at Katie’s Carryout in LaFollette for Bluegrass legend and Cancer survivor Phil Leadbetter, who passed away on Oct.14. The benefit starts at 5:30pm.

Known as “Uncle Phil,” the Knoxville native had a huge following and influenced bluegrass around the world. 

Leadbetter was a professional Dobro musician that left a lasting legacy on the world of Bluegrass. He was a three time International Bluegrass Musician Association Dobro Player of the Year recipient, grammy nominated, a five time cancer survivor and “just an all around amazing guy who was always helping others.”

After battling Cancer for many years, he passed away from complications with COVID-19 two weeks shy of today’s benefit scheduled for him to be held at Katie’s Carryout and Catering. He was 59- years- old. 

Benefit organizers have decided to go ahead with the event and auction to help Phil’s family with funeral expenses and medical costs. 

The benefit is Friday, Oct. 29 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Katie’s Carryout and Catering in LaFollette. 

Local musician Joseph Hensley is accepting donations for the auction and helping organize the benefit. 

There will be singing, music, an auction, cakes, desserts, and more. If anyone is unable to attend and would like to donate any items, contact Joseph Hensley or it can be dropped of at Katie’s Carryout and Catering. There has also been a GoFundMe set up by Debbie Gulley. Hensley can be contacted at 423.201.3278.

“We wanted to do this fundraiser to help Phil like he has helped so many others. He suffered many years but he always was pushing himself and helping others,” Hensley said.  

Hensley met Phil the first year he went to the late Steve Gulley’s acoustic music camp. 

“I hadn’t been playing guitar but maybe two years. Phil, Steve and everyone who was at camp treated each other like family. It didn’t matter if you were just starting out in music or someone who had played all over the world,” Hensley said. 

Phil’s good friend Steve Gulley passed away in August 2020. Gulley, a Claiborne County native and Bluegrass star of the music group Mountain Heart, was always traveling with Phil. 

“Phil and Steve were best friends and when Phil wasn’t able to go places, he would go with Steve. You would never be around either of them that you didn’t get encouragement and laugh so hard at their stories that you would have tears in your eyes. It was an honor to call Phil and Steve friends,” Hensley said.

According to his obituary, “Phil was a native of the Gibbs community where he graduated from Gibbs High School. He was a world-renowned resonator guitar player, receiving countless awards and accolades for performing. Phil was awarded by the International Bluegrass Musician Association three times for dobro player of the year and was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1994. Phil was known for being a master of his instrument, a mentor to many, as well as being a true friend to everyone he encountered in the bluegrass community and beyond.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/22/2021-6AM)

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