Josh White, Hank Williams, Johnny Mercer, Ray Charles. Jesse Winchester, Johannes Brahms, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Michele LeGrand, The Band, Gustav Mahler, Oscar Peterson
Sounds Like
What you find on these CDs!
Dreams of the Song Dog - 1995
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Across the Winterline - 1997
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Eternity & Main - 1999
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Walkin' Dreams - 2003
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Live & In Good Company - 2003
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Laughing In the Face of Blues - 2005 ******** You can find my CD's at www.jackwilliamsmusic.com *******************
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME ABOUT A PERFORMANCE, A WORKSHOP, OR ANYTHING RELATED TO MY WORK, PLEASE USE THE CONTACT INFORMATION AT MY WEBSITE: JACKWILLIAMSMUSIC.COM. TIME ONLY ALLOWS ME TO VISIT MYSPACE INFREQUENTLY AND I'D HATE TO MISS YOUR MESSAGE. THANKS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY NEW CD - DON'T LET GO - IS NOW AVAILABLE!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Please visit WWW.JACKWILLIAMSMUSIC.COM to order)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is my first recording of all non-original music - reflecting many of the strongest influences upon my own music and 50-year career - not only by songwriters, but by artists who performed the songs and by certain styles which had a lasting impact on my musical choices. (These influences are indicated by all caps in the song list, below).
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THE SONGS on 'DON'T LET GO':
1. DON'T LET GO by Jesse Stone - as performed by ROY HAMILTON
2. AUNT HAGAR'S BLUES by W.C. HANDY & J.T. Brymn - as performed by LOUIS ARMSTRONG and his All-Stars
3. BILOXI by JESSE WINCHESTER
4. HE WILL BREAK YOUR HEART by J. Butler, C. Mayfield, C. Carter - as performed by JERRY BUTLER
5. TOMORROW IS SUCH A LONG TIME by BOB DYLAN
6. YOUNG AT HEART by Johnny Richards & Carolyn Leigh - as performed by FRANK SINATRA and HARRY NILSSON
7. KING HARVEST by ROBBIE ROBERTSON - as performed by THE BAND
8. WISH I WAS (A WILLOW TREE) by MICKEY NEWBURY
9. THAT LUCKY OLD SUN by Haven Gillespie & Beasley Smith - as performed by FRANKIE LAINE and RAY CHARLES
10. HALLELUJAH I LOVE HER SO by RAY CHARLES
11. LOVESICK BLUES by Irving Mills & Cliff Friend - as performed by HANK WILLIAMS
12. THE HEART OF SATURDAY NIGHT by TOM WAITS
13. SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD by Chester Burnett
14. LULLABY OF BIRDLAND by GEORGE SHEARING
15. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE by JOHNNY MERCER & Harold Arlen - as performed by RAY CHARLES
16. DADDY'S HOME by J. Sheppard & W. Miller (Shep & the Limelites)
17. DELICADO by Valdir Azevedo
18. A SALTY DOG by Gary Brooker & Keith Reid - as performed by PROCOL HARUM
19. WATERMELON MAN by WILLIS ALAN RAMSEY
20. GOTTA TRAVEL ON by Paul Clayton, L. Erlich, D. Lazar, T. Six
21. BYE, BYE BLACKBIRD Ray Henderson & Mort Dixon
22. REBEL-ROUSER by Duane Eddy & Lee Hazelwood - as performed by DUANE EDDY
THE MUSIC AND THE MUSICIANS:
Even though the material ranges from a 1920s blues/gospel W.C. Handy tune to a 1950s George Shearing jazz piece, and from mysterious rockers of The Band and Procol Harum to a Sinatra/Nilsson chestnut and a doo-wop classic, I’ve retained the same basic ensemble throughout - guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo with cameos by viola, tenor guitar, violin/fiddle, and fluegelhorn. None of my arrangements are "parodies", but were recorded in the true spirit which guided my performing of these songs in previous years. Many of you will recognize most of these songs as "bit-players" which have randomly appeared during my usual concert-closing medley, "That's All". The medley was, in fact, the inspiration for the album, which is intended as a loving tribute to this music.
There are those who will wonder why there are no songs by Josh White, since he was one of my heroes. This is because I wasn't influenced so much by his writing but by his intense style of performance and rhythms - and by his life. By the same token, I've included no songs by Elvis, the Beatles, Miles Davis, Stephen Foster, or Franz Schubert, but their varied influences must certainly be detected in almost every track on the CD. This is an honest attempt to reflect the love
and inspiration I’ve felt from this music, as well as my deep, lasting friendships with all the people who made this music with me - including my South Carolinian pals, who accompanied me on the past five albums.
South Carolinian Jack Williams, guitarist /singer /songwriter /storyteller, is outstanding among a handful of artists who - in skill, depth and integrity stand head and shoulders above the many performers flooding todays folk circuit. Among acoustic guitarists he is near-legendary. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50-year career, he has preferred touring "under the radar", playing concerts, large and small, week in, week out, from the sheer love of music and performing.
Jack is now a sought-after artist on contemporary acoustic - or "folk" - music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, Fox Valley, New Bedford SummerFest, and other Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.
As a guitarist, he has accompanied Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Mickey Newbury and Harry Nilsson. Invited onstage by Arlo Guthrie to sing a song, he then joined the group for the concert encores. He produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Ronny Cox, Eric Schwartz, Carla Ulbrich, and more recently, The Malvinas.
Friendships with two great singers had an enormous impact on the rest of Jack's career. In 1973, his relationship with the late Harry Nilsson resulted in an ill-fated album effort at RCA during a time of music-industry turmoil. Until recently, he toured as sole accompanist to his friend, the late legendary songwriter, Mickey Newbury, with whom he recorded a live album and video, Nights When I Am Sane (reissued as Winter Winds). In 1996, Jack played, co-produced and co-wrote songs on Mickey's CD, Lulled By The Moonlight, which became Billboard's CD pick-of-the-week.
Rich Warren, of WFMT "Midnight Special", and Folkstage, said:
".... his artistry... is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere."
From 1958 through 1987, Jack was best-known as an electric guitarist in a series of original rock bands and smaller acoustic ensembles. In the late 60's, he gave in to his troubadour nature and began performing solo - singing and playing a gut-string guitar and touring from coast to coast. Before beginning to write in 1970, Jack was inspired by the varied likes of Jesse Winchester, Josh White, Hank Williams, Johnny Mercer, and Ray Charles. When the spirit moves him today, songs from favorite writers spring readily from his lips and fingers.
Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) called Jack "The best guitar-player I've ever heard."
As a hired-gun guitarist in the Deep South of the Civil Rights-Easy Rider 60's, Jack worked shows with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Jerry Butler, Z.Z. Hill, Hank Ballard and many others. During that era, his bands also backed up artists such as the Shirelles, the Del-Vikings, the Coasters, the Drifters, and the Platters.
Jack's career has been nothing if not eclectic. He played trumpet in a jazz quartet in a beatnik coffeehouse in Seattle in 1959 - reading poetry to the audience during breaks. He learned banjo and mandolin to spice up folk groups in the 60's in Georgia. He played pedal-steel guitar in a country-rock band, and classical guitar/lute in a Renaissance ensemble. His skill with instrumental composition won him a national arts grant in 1967. This led to his later arrangements for other artists recordings (ie: Jonnell Mosser, The Malvinas, Mickey Newbury, others).
Vic Heyman in SING OUT! says one of the strongest guitar players in contemporary folk.
Dave Humphreys, of Two-Way Street Coffeehouse (Downer's Grove), said:
"If there is anyone not familiar with Jack's incredible songwriting and prodigious performance skills, my sympathies to you. A Jack Williams show is a slam-dunk win-win-win for all. One of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I've ever encountered."
Jack, I just want to say what a pleasure and honor it was to meet you in such an intimate setting as Kerrville...particularly the 3am stroll through the grounds which I never will forget. Thank you for being so approachable. You enriched my life. Love, Shep
Hope to see you all for my show at GoodFolk house this Friday, June 13 at 8pm. GoodFolk was recently voted one of the top ten most quirky music venues in America by a New York magazine. You can bring your own beer and wine, and enjoy the show in the most intimate venue in town.
Guest musicians include: Kelly Mulhollan (Still on the Hill), Matt Smith (Flipoff Pirates), Jason Davis (Tablerockers), and David Embree. Come early and you can purchase limited advance copies of my new CDs, including my new single "Southern Nights". With limited seating, you should call GoodFolk now and make your reservations.
GoodFolk House 229 N. Block in Fayetteville 479-521-1812 Doors at 7:30/Show at 8:00 Tickets are $10
This new record is yet another great shot or American popular music. My own favorite is Mickey's Willow Tree. Thanks for including it in the collection. Hope this finds you guys well.