Arts & Life
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) is presenting a one-night performance show with guitarist/song writer Jack Williams at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5.
Williams’ music, rooted in his native South Carolina, was shaped by a 54-year career of playing folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He is counted among the most dynamic performers on today’s “folk” music circuit.
Williams is an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar.
A sought-after artist on all contemporary acoustic music stages, from coffeehouses and festivals to music halls and city arts stages; from acclaimed appearances at Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, New Bedford SummerFest Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence have established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.
Friendships with two great singers had an enormous impact on Williams’ career and on the development of his own singing voice.
In 1973, his relationship with the late Harry Nilsson resulted in an album effort at RCA during an ill-fated period of music industry turmoil.
Until 2002, he sometimes toured as solo accompanist to his friend, the late Mickey Newbury, with whom he co-wrote, co-produced and recorded a live album and video, Nights when I am Sane (reissued as Winter Winds).
From 1958 through 1988, along with playing jazz trumpet and classical guitar, Williams was best known as an electric guitarist in a series of original rock bands and smaller acoustic ensembles.
As a hired-gun guitarist in the Deep South of the Civil Rights-Easy Rider 1960s, Williams’ bands accompanied the likes of John Lee Hooker, Big Joe turner, Jerry Butler, Hank Ballard, the Shirelles and the Del-Vikings.
Enriched from these varied influences, Williams’ music is truly an “All-American Southern” music. In the late 1960s he gave in to his troubadour nature and began performing solo – singing and playing a gut-string guitar and touring from coast to coast.
Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.
For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752, or e-mail susan@lakecountywinestudio.com .
