Current band is Willie and the Poor Boys -
Brian Williams - guitar/vocals;
Steve Hudgins - bass/vocals;
Mark Young - drums;
Steve Utt - keys (when available).
Here's a cool Youtube video of me sitting in with Lee Roy Parnell at the Canal Club in Richmond VA back in November '06.
Influences
Bill Monroe, BB King, Duane Allman, Grant Green, Jimmy Smith, Clarence White, Don Rich, Roy Nichols, Chuck Berry, Coltrane, Gershwin, Jerry Garcia, Kenny Burrell, Lee Roy Parnell, Scott Fore, Jeff Beck, Brother Jack McDuff, Lowell George, David Grier, Ron Block, Magic Sam, David Grisman, Albert Collins, Tony Rice, Stuart Duncan, King Curtis, Scotty Stoneman, Hendrix, Steve Cropper, Trey Anastasio, Keith Jarrett, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Julian Adderly, Jimmy Forrest, Aretha Franklin, The Muscle Shoals band, Django, The Beach Boys, Bob Marley, Bob Wills, Bryan Sutton, Delbert McClinton, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Joe Walsh, Scotty Moore, Elvis, Clapton, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Charles Sawtelle, Jackie Greene, James Burton, Jimmy Vaughan, John Scofield, Jimmy Page, Mark O'Connor, Merle Travis, Sam Bush, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Mike Bloomfield, Andy Summers, Ray Charles, John Frusciante, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Son House, Bela Fleck, Keith Richards, Ronnie Bowman, Kenny Smith, T Bone Walker, Vince Gill, Waylon Jennings, umm... that's about all I can think of for now.
Sounds Like
BB King on Cornbread.
Here's another video of me playing mandolin with the Kruger Brothers at my friend Wayne's house in December '06. Fun stuff! Those guys are amazing pickers. My friend Scott Fore takes the guitar break after me, but he's hidden from view. Not sure who the fiddler is. If it's you, send me an email and I'll add your name here!
Well, a little about me... I have a career in the insurance business, I'm a happily married father of two and I'm the proud owner of a '67 Mustang. All that keeps me pretty busy, but I try to play music on the side as much as I can. I try to keep my playing simple. I think good playing should be lyrical and melodic regardless of the genre, and I certainly strive for that. I'll never dazzle anyone with my amazing technique, but I try to milk the most out of every note. My influences are wide ranging from George Gershwin to Kanye West, but I always seem to come home to players like Grant Green, BB King and Bill Monroe. Their playing always seems to tell a story or take you on a spiritual journey. I aspire to that. I'm probably most at home on the slide guitar which is ironic because that's probably what I listen to the least these days. I just find that the slide is a great way to express the sounds that I hear in my head. I try to approach slide as a cross between the violin (because one is not bound by frets) and the blues harmonica (because one is bound by a diatonic tuning). That approach has worked for me over the years and I've been able to successfully adapt my playing to many different genres. Lately though, I've found the most work as a non-slide country player because that's where the jobs seem to be. I can be content playing tele all night since Don Rich, Roy Nichols and Clarence White are three of my biggest heroes. I'll never live up to those cats but its fun to try. Bluegrass is also a big part of who I am. I spent ten years of my life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and learned how to flatpick from some of true heirs of that music. I don't know how I would have turned out if I'd never heard Doc Watson or Norman Blake or Charles Sawtelle or Tony Rice (or Clarence White for that matter!) Those guys had a huge influence on me and helped shape my playing to what it is today. Oh, I also play the mandolin. You should know that my narrow view of the mandolin begins and ends with Bill Monroe and my playing reflects that. However, I have great respect for Mike Compton, Ronnie McCoury and David McLaughlin for carrying on in a way that would probably make Mr. Monroe proud (or more likely jealous). I have shared the stage with Scott Fore, Wayne C. Henderson, AJ Roach, Lee Roy Parnell, Steve Duncan, Ivan Appelrouth, Lil' Ronnie, Helen White, Steve Hunt, and Barry Collins. I have also played in bands that have opened for David Grisman and Darrell Scott among others. And once I got to jam with Derek Trucks on a tour bus. THAT was cool. Hope you enjoy my space and please give me some feedback!
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Love your music, Brian! Spent a little while on your page and read your "About Me" section....very refreshing! Thank you so much for adding me to your list of friends. The honor is all mine! Please stop by for a peek and a listen any time, as YOU are always welcome! God bless, Donita :o)
Here you go. This is what I saw two years ago at Chrysler Hall. Amazing! Only thing that bothered me was the fact that this Paul is right-handed. I got over it pretty quick. "A Day in the Life" is great too.
How are ya doin Willie? The jazz life is good, its more the R and B , blues and rock life lately though. Nice songs on your page here, your touch is as sweet as ever!
Check out "Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks - Old Friend" on Youtube. Amazing. Also, someone recently posted a video of "Tell the Truth", one of our favorites. Trucks's slide is on fire in that one. However, I sure miss Whitlock's vocals. Call me later this weekend.
Great to hear from you - a little lucky surfing on my part. I got over the way things went with the band a long time ago and started to miss you guys. That was a fun time. Glad to see you're being a Daddy to.. and not to far away from here, too.
