Williams Riley 'Williams Riley' album

Every once in a while, talent and personality do what they should: Attract immediate and enthusiastic support from fans and fellow artists. Case in point: Steve Williams, the lead singer for Williams Riley, one of country music’s most exciting newcomers. Williams expresses amazement at how many top names within the music industry have rallied behind him and lent their talents and their enthusiastic support in helping his music find a larger audience.

Among those top names, rock’s most famous guitarist, Slash, joins country star Bryan White and famed singer-songwriter Edwin McCain on the debut, self-titled Williams Riley album—an incredible rarity for a new, independent artist.

That’s only part of the lineup of all-stars on the recording. Co-producer Noel Golden is an award-winning studio veteran who has worked with platinum selling artists matchbox twenty, Metallica, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Sammy Hagar, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack, to just name a few. Derek George, best-known as Bryan White’s primary collaborator, also co-produced. Besides Slash, other acclaimed instrumentalists on the album include A-team players Dan Dugmore, Kenny Greenberg and John Hobbs.

Fans have reacted with similar over-the-top fervor, crowding merchandise tables to buy Williams Riley CD’s after each show. The band once sold all 400 CD’s brought to a show in Chicago, even though they played a short 30-minute opening set before two better-known acts.
“I can’t believe how passionate everyone has been about what we’re doing,” says Williams, the singer, songwriter and guiding light of Williams Riley. “Not long ago, I was just a guy writing songs in Louisiana. Now a bunch of my heroes are playing with me and my band on my songs because they love what I’m doing, that tells me that we must be doing something right.”

Indeed, there’s a fairy tale quality to Williams’ skyrocketing rise. He’s enjoyed a series of fantastic breaks that lead many to suggest his success was meant to be, as co-producer Golden puts it. “Everyone who hears Williams Riley wants to hear more, and they ask what they can do to help,” says the veteran producer. “There’s an amazing groundswell of support that keeps lifting this thing higher.”

Although a popular bandleader in his high-school days, Williams married young and, to support his family, worked in the rugged and dangerous oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico near his home of the tiny port city of Larose, Louisiana. Though his days working in the Gulf were long, he continued to make time to hone his skills as a songwriter. While attending an Edwin McCain concert in New Orleans, Williams passed some of his work along to the popular singer songwriter.

”My guitar has been an amazing passport to great experiences and friendships. My favorite surprise of that year was my discovery of Steve Williams. His love of music and his dedication to the craft of songwriting has inspired me all over again. “ McCain suggested Williams come to the star’s hometown of Greenville, S.C., where McCain had just built his own studio. In Greenville, McCain introduced Williams to producer and engineer Noel Golden, who had worked on several of McCain’s albums. “Within about two days, Noel and I were best friends,” Williams says of Golden.

The two recorded an independent album which sold amazingly well, especially at concerts, but then soon realized that the music industry would be puzzled as to which genre was being targeted. Williams decided to team up with Pete Riley, a singer songwriter from England, and focus on country music, which they both loved. Riley and Williams eventually parted amicably. Having toured as the lead singer of Williams Riley, he decided to keep the name while recruiting new group members.

His first new band member was guitarist Charlie Hutto, who, as it turned out, had a grandfather named William Riley Hutto—one of many seemingly fateful twists to the story. Another Louisiana musician, Joe Rogers, soon signed on as steel guitarist. Next, Williams contacted guitarist Derek George, and, as it turned out, George had played with Rogers in Bryan White’s band—not to mention, Rogers is the godfather to one of George's children. To round out the band, Williams invited good friend Dave Guidry to play bass and hired drummer Nick Buda, who came highly recommended and happens to be close friends with Derek George.

“This seemed like a band that belonged together, because so many of them knew and liked each other and had performed with each other for years,” Williams says. “The funny thing was I brought them all together by coincidence, but it sure made it seem like it was meant to be.”

While recording vocals for the song "Road & Me" in the studio in Greenville, Williams joked with Golden that they needed someone like Slash to play the lead. Turns out Golden previously had worked with Slash, so he sent him the track, and modern rock’s most famous guitarist eagerly agreed to join the group for a session in Los Angeles.

Williams realizes that an album featuring McCain, Slash and White might sound diverse—and he’s say that’s exactly what it is. “I wanted to make a country album, but one that pushed against the boundaries and appealed to fans outside of country music too,” he says. “One reason I asked Derek George to co-produce was that I wanted the album to stay within the parameters of contemporary country music. The reason I insisted that Noel (Golden) co-produce was that I knew he’d push the boundaries and capture the energy that I wanted for this record.”

Like everyone else who hears the album, Williams expresses excitement at what he’s created. A down-to-earth guy until he hits the stage, the singer believes he fits into the contemporary forefront of where country music is headed.

“Country music is evolving,” Williams says. “There’s always some resistance to change, but the bright side is that country’s audience is expanding. My 16-year old daughter says her favorite song is by Brooks & Dunn, and I’m totally down with that. It doesn’t matter to me if she likes traditional or contemporary country music. It does matter to me that the songs she likes are moral and about real life. One of the things I love about country music is that it allows me to write and sing about real emotions and real people.”

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