Although the main emphasis was Bert Weedon's influence on UK guitarists (Obituary, 21 April), he did influence musicians beyond these shores, including Zambia, in sub-Saharan Africa, an unknown in terms of music. In a part of the world where music is more a hobby than a big money earner, the early Zambian bands and musicians of the 60s through to the 80s emulated his clean sound, to which they could add their fuzz and distortions. My older sibling's red Gibson/Epiphone E335 mimicked Bert's sound from an album which had songs like Elvis's Can't Help Fallin' in Love and South of the Border on it. The whammy on it added to the beautiful shuffle of a western movie. Alan Yentob's documentaries on the guitar did feature an excerpt of Bert – this should be repeated in the man's honour. It's a pity that his OBE was not upgraded to a knighthood. And with your support, can the current guitarist beneficiaries of his sound hold a concert in Bert's honour? As a closet amateur guitar enthusiast, I would attend, even if I was forced to play one note on a sixth string in a bad attempt at trying his rendition of Malaguena.
Joseph Yikona
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Letters: Zambia's debt to Bert
Letters: It's a pity Weedon's OBE was not upgraded to a knighthood. And with your support, can the current guitarist beneficiaries hold a concert in his honour?
The GuardianTramp
