|
BILL WILLIAMS moved to Wilkes County from Florida in 1976, and he
has immersed himself in the mountain music of the region. Bill's music endeavors started when his wife bought him an
old guitar shortly after they were married in 1983. He learned to play rhythm guitar and met guitarist Steve Kilby at
American Drew where they both worked. Bill had been playing the "doghouse" bass some too, as a matter of fact, his first
on stage gig was playing bass with Ramona Church and her band at Fiddlers Grove in Union Grove, NC. Bill continued his
association with Steve Kilby and did his first studio recording with Steve at Heritage Records in Galax, Va. The name
of this recording was "Sunday Night" and all the songs were originals written by Steve. Bill was a founding member of
Steve Kilby’s "Sunday Night Band" along with John Akin and Jimmy Wyatt. He stayed with this band, later renamed
to "Kingsberry Run", for about 5 years. While with Steve's band he won numerous ribbons and trophy's at fiddlers conventions
throughout North Carolina and Virginia.
Around 1993, Bill met Drake Walsh and Floyd Williams. They had
a band called "Southland" and Floyd ask Bill if he would be interested in playing bass with them because their bass player,
Marshal Craven was leaving the band. He stayed with this band till 2001. At this time Bill and Drake were approached
by Jerry Lankford and asked if they would be interested in playing with a band that was being formed to play live music for
a play written by Karen Wheeling Reynolds called "Tom Dooley, A Wilkes County Legend". The play was being put on annually
by the Wilkes Playmakers at Benton Hall in North Wilkesboro. Bill agreed to pick with the band which also included Jerry
Lankford, Drake Walsh, Herb Key & Nicole Vidrine. A name was needed for the band so Herb Key came up with the name
"Elkville String Band" due to the fact that Tom Dooley was born in Elkville, a small town in Wilkes Co., that is now called
Ferguson. Bill picked with the band for 3 seasons of the Tom Dooley play and the group recorded 4 CD's of the music
for the play.
In addition to the Elkville String Band and Steve Kilby, he has recorded
with Donny (Dobro) Scott, Jim Scancarelli, Tommy Malboeuf, Carson Cooper, Randy Greer, Billy Hurt Jr., Teddy Francisco, Jim
Lloyd, Kay Justice & others. Bill is still a member of the Elkville String Band along with Herb Key, Drake Walsh
& Jeff Michael. He also is a member of the Lloyd Church Band and picks with different groups from time to time,
when asked, to fill in on the bass.
|
