If you shake this man's hand with your eyes closed, you think you are in the grip of a 38 year-old.
Open your eyes and you see a man in his prime at 83!
Ernie Williams' eyes have seen plenty. Consider: his birth pre-dated historical events like Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, Lou Gehrig's farewell, the (real) Great Depression and even Scotch tape!
And while he has been regarded as the deacon of the blues genre in this region for decades and there's been plenty of material for multiple albums worth of songs about sadness and regret, when you sit down and talk to him it's the positive things about life that are talked about almost exclusively.
There's an overall gratefulness about his life, a zest for its richness, and a joy in its simple pleasures. Everything is expressed with a "please" and "thank you, lord" as befitting a gentleman who began his life on a Virginia plantation. When I called him this week to find out how he was doing, he was thrilled to say that A) he went fishing today (go for the catfish and perch) and B) his garden is doing well (he has high hopes for his string bean, tomato and corn crops this year), and C) what a honor and pleasure it is to talk to you today. That's perspective.
How about some music, Ernie?
Well there's plenty of that of course. And much of the history has passed into the realm of 'lore' by now. Beginning at age 13; Keyword: picking - tobacco on the plantation by day, the guitar by night. Step one of his 'arrival' is his acceptance into the company of established bluesmen in what was 'it' in Halifax County, Virginia in the 1940's - the Saturday Night Fish Fry.
Step two took a year to achieve. Saving up the $9.00 for a one-way bus ticket to Harlem. Soon, and throughout the 1950's he was playing in The City 7 nights a week. His bio states that during that decade:
"From amateur nights at the famed Apollo Theater to juke joints in the dark corners of the city, he was making his mark as a young showman."
- www.erniewilliams.com
It was in the 1960's that Ernie hit the Capital Region. Coming back from some gigs in Canada, he pulled in for a one-nighter at the now gone Soul Shack in Arbor Hill. Ernie found a land that was more akin to his rural routes, and a lifestyle that offered a contrast from the city rat race. "My kind of place" he said.
And while the sledding for a musician might have been tougher up here, and odd jobs might need to be taken to get over, there were some big successes right away. Ernie was a fixture at the Jolly Inn, also long gone now, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ("after church") for 18 years.
Then came the glory days for the 'overnight sensation'. With a new band formed the 1990's were a time of growth both in and outside the market. The first of what is now six CD's were released; play dates at the House of Blues in Boston; Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago; 2nd place in KLON's National Blues Competition in California, opening for BB King.
Things were happening in a big way for Ernie, and it probably would be tempting for most to 'go Hollywood' and relocate to some bigger market. One would think that there would be even more opportunities. But Ernie stayed faithful to who he was:
"I can't forget where I came from" he said, "as long as I do what Ernie can do--the best that I can do--then things take care of themselves with the good Lord's help."
To say it worked out is an understatement. A remarkable event happened in 1997. The multi-national corporation Canon was looking for iconic objects for a copier ad campaign that epitomized 'true colors'...
So guess who they picked to represent 'blue'?
He has been labeled by politicians and media outlets alike as one of "the best things about the Capital Region". His annual birthday bash has packed huge venues like the egg and Linda Norris auditorium. Some of his band mates change over time but the quality and experience at every station is unquestioned. The current unit has a core of band director Charlie Vatalaro on saxophones, Rocky Petrocelli on drums, and David Malachowski on guitar. When the situation calls for more firepower, similar credentialed personnel are added. Who wouldn't want to play with a living legend?
All great reasons to see him this weekend. But the most important at this time is longevity.
I mean yours... who knows how long you'll hang on?
As for Ernie, he's not going anywhere anytime soon, thank the Lord.
Ernie Williams' eyes have seen plenty. Consider: his birth pre-dated historical events like Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, Lou Gehrig's farewell, the (real) Great Depression and even Scotch tape!
And while he has been regarded as the deacon of the blues genre in this region for decades and there's been plenty of material for multiple albums worth of songs about sadness and regret, when you sit down and talk to him it's the positive things about life that are talked about almost exclusively.
There's an overall gratefulness about his life, a zest for its richness, and a joy in its simple pleasures. Everything is expressed with a "please" and "thank you, lord" as befitting a gentleman who began his life on a Virginia plantation. When I called him this week to find out how he was doing, he was thrilled to say that A) he went fishing today (go for the catfish and perch) and B) his garden is doing well (he has high hopes for his string bean, tomato and corn crops this year), and C) what a honor and pleasure it is to talk to you today. That's perspective.
How about some music, Ernie?
Well there's plenty of that of course. And much of the history has passed into the realm of 'lore' by now. Beginning at age 13; Keyword: picking - tobacco on the plantation by day, the guitar by night. Step one of his 'arrival' is his acceptance into the company of established bluesmen in what was 'it' in Halifax County, Virginia in the 1940's - the Saturday Night Fish Fry.
Step two took a year to achieve. Saving up the $9.00 for a one-way bus ticket to Harlem. Soon, and throughout the 1950's he was playing in The City 7 nights a week. His bio states that during that decade:
"From amateur nights at the famed Apollo Theater to juke joints in the dark corners of the city, he was making his mark as a young showman."
- www.erniewilliams.com
It was in the 1960's that Ernie hit the Capital Region. Coming back from some gigs in Canada, he pulled in for a one-nighter at the now gone Soul Shack in Arbor Hill. Ernie found a land that was more akin to his rural routes, and a lifestyle that offered a contrast from the city rat race. "My kind of place" he said.
And while the sledding for a musician might have been tougher up here, and odd jobs might need to be taken to get over, there were some big successes right away. Ernie was a fixture at the Jolly Inn, also long gone now, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ("after church") for 18 years.
Then came the glory days for the 'overnight sensation'. With a new band formed the 1990's were a time of growth both in and outside the market. The first of what is now six CD's were released; play dates at the House of Blues in Boston; Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago; 2nd place in KLON's National Blues Competition in California, opening for BB King.
Things were happening in a big way for Ernie, and it probably would be tempting for most to 'go Hollywood' and relocate to some bigger market. One would think that there would be even more opportunities. But Ernie stayed faithful to who he was:
"I can't forget where I came from" he said, "as long as I do what Ernie can do--the best that I can do--then things take care of themselves with the good Lord's help."
To say it worked out is an understatement. A remarkable event happened in 1997. The multi-national corporation Canon was looking for iconic objects for a copier ad campaign that epitomized 'true colors'...
So guess who they picked to represent 'blue'?
He has been labeled by politicians and media outlets alike as one of "the best things about the Capital Region". His annual birthday bash has packed huge venues like the egg and Linda Norris auditorium. Some of his band mates change over time but the quality and experience at every station is unquestioned. The current unit has a core of band director Charlie Vatalaro on saxophones, Rocky Petrocelli on drums, and David Malachowski on guitar. When the situation calls for more firepower, similar credentialed personnel are added. Who wouldn't want to play with a living legend?
All great reasons to see him this weekend. But the most important at this time is longevity.
I mean yours... who knows how long you'll hang on?
As for Ernie, he's not going anywhere anytime soon, thank the Lord.
Main Menu
Leave a comment