Music
Press
Friday, April 3, 2009 2:08 PM CDT
Although he is normally found rocking the clubs of his hometown, Clarksdale bluesman Terry “Big T” Williams was doing it California style last week where on March 29 he was inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society’s West Coast Hall of Fame.
In addition to being inducted into the Oakland–based organization’s hall of fame, Williams was awarded the 2009 Blues Guitarist of the Year award from the BABS.
The society reportedly voted to award Big T the award after taking notice of a recent performance he put on at the Russell City Blues Festival in Oakland.
Born and raised in Clarksdale, Williams is a prime example of the younger generation of blues artists working to keep alive the older musical traditions they were reared upon.
Beginning at a very young age Williams fell under the tutelage of Johnny Billington, a Lambert-based bluesman who is still as busy as ever keeping true to his mission of passing the music form down.
Following his initial instruction under Billington, and while still in his teens, Williams spent a number of years touring with the successful blues trio The Jelly Roll Kings.
During the past decade he has fronted such bands such as Big T and The Family Band and Big T and the Review Band.
In 2007, along with fellow Clarksdale blues veteran Wesley “Junebug” Jefferson, Williams released “Meet Me in the Cotton Field” on Broke & Hungry Records.
Big T could not be reached for comment on this story.
- Andy Ross
http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2010/03/24/news/doc4ba8e3bd855ad788515057.txt
Terry “Big T” Williams plays on the stage at Ground Zero Blues Club before a large audience Saturday night at the celebration of the release of his latest CD, “Jump Back, Big T’s in the House.” Matt Blumert, founder of Matt The Scat Records, is executive producer of the album. GZBC’s co-owners Bill Luckett and Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman were present at the CD release party.
- Troy Catchings/The Clarksdale Press Register
http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2010/03/19/news/doc4ba3bad157c4a881228030.txt
Friday, March 19, 2010 1:18 PM CDT
Clarksdale area native Terry “Big T” Williams will be celebrating the release of his latest CD at the world-famous Ground Zero Blues Club by unleashing the album live on stage Saturday, March 20, at 9 p.m.
“Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” features a mix of blues classics by Mississippi-born artists like Muddy Waters and Luther Allison, along with original tunes by Williams and his band.
In a press release, Matt Blumert, founder of Matt The Scat Records and executive producer of Williams’ album, commented on the final product.
“The band and producers worked hard to make this a CD that “Big T” fans would go back to again and again,” Blumert said. “Big T is probably best known for his high-energy guitar workouts on stage, but he is also a dynamic vocalist and up-and-coming songwriter.”
“Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” features Williams’ long-time local rhythm section. Drummer Lee Williams is a veteran of recording sessions by James “T-Model” Ford, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Pat Thomas and other Magnolia State residents. Bassist Jeremy Horton is a veteran of numerous live shows and a former student of the Delta Blues Museum’s Arts & Education Program in Clarksdale.”
The album was recorded last summer at the Clarksdale Soundstage – just steps away from where “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy once lived.
“Big T’s” production team included sound engineering managed by Gary Vincent and John Magnusson of Vincent Productions. Vincent’s other recent projects include a Blues Music Award-nominated DVD by George Thorogood, as well as recordings by Elvin Bishop, Delaney Bramlett and Jimmy Thackery.
How did “Big T” get his name?
“Well, most of the great blues players were big somebody, so I decided I would be big somebody, so why not “Big T,” Williams told the Press Register.
Williams spent time in the neighborhood of legendary Ike Turner.
“I had the opportunity to listen to some of his stuff and hear his band practice on the outside of his mom’s house,” he said. “We were all down home Southern folks, so we ate in each other’s kitchen from time-to-time.”
How did Williams get interested in music?
“I always wanted to learn to play music, but I didn’t have the opportunity until I met someone like Mr. Billington,” Williams said.
Billington, a renowned Delta blues musician and music teacher, needed a bass player when Williams was 11 years old. He placed a bass in the young boy’s hands, and told him he had been chosen to become his next bass player. The rest his history, and later in life Williams converted to playing guitar—electric and acoustic.
What does Williams see in the near future?
“I hope and pray I just become a better guitar player and people like me as a musician and artist,” said Williams.
The new CD will be pre-released and available for purchase at Ground Zero Blues Club on Saturday, and Williams will be available for personalized autographs.
National release to record stores will begin Tuesday, March 23 through Super D Distribution. Clarksdale’s Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art will also be carrying the CD.
- Billy Howell
Saturday, March 20th will be a house party for the history books when hometown blues guitar hero Terry “Big T” Williams unleashes his latest album live on stage at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale.
The inaugural release from Matt The Scat Records, “Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” features a mix of blues classics by Mississippi-born artists like Muddy Waters and Luther Allison and soon-to-be classic originals by Williams and his band.
“Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” features Williams’ long-time local rhythm section. Drummer Lee Williams is a veteran of recording sessions by James “T-Model” Ford, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Pat Thomas and other Magnolia State residents. Bassist Jeremy Horton is a veteran of numerous live shows and a former student of the Delta Blues Museum’s Arts & Education Program in Clarksdale.
Additional backing is provided by session keyboardist Elijah “Doc” Wilkins and fan-turned-musician Vann A. Durham.
Recorded late last summer at the new, state-of-the-art Clarksdale Soundstage – just steps away from where “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy once lived – the new CD also features an all-star production team.
Sound engineering was managed by Gary Vincent of Vincent Productions. Vincent’s other recent projects include a Blues Music Award-nominated DVD by George Thorogood as well as recordings by Elvin Bishop, Delaney Bramlett and Jimmy Thackery. John Magnusson, formerly of Electric Lady Studio, also assisted with sound engineering.
“Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” was mastered by Motown legend Bob Olhsson, whose recording history includes work with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Grateful Dead and Rare Earth.
Sound samples, session photos and more information on Williams is available on-line atwww.terrybigtwilliams.com
“Ground Zero Blues Club is please to be hosting Big T’s CD Release Party,” says Roger Stolle, the club’s music coordinator. “Big T played the club’s grand opening party in 2001 and has been a regular here ever since. It promises to be a major event and a big night for everyone involved. I’d recommend that fans get there early to get a good seat.”
The new CD will be pre-released and available for purchase at the event, and Williams will be available for personalized autographs. National release to record stores will begin Tuesday, March 23rd through Super D Distribution.
The CD Release Party for “Jump Back, Big T’s in the House” is next Saturday, March 20th, 9pm at Ground Zero Blues Club. - The Commercial Appeal
On Saturday the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale will host a record release party for local guitarist and vocalist Terry "Big T." Williams. The CD, Jump Back, Big T's In the House, is the debut release on the Matt the Scat label.
Born in Farrell in 1960, Williams began studying with blues instructor Johnnie Billington in his preteens. Today his music is largely in the same hard-driving style as Clarksdale's Big Jack Johnson, with whom Williams has performed off and on for many years.
Most of the songs here are originals with local themes, such as Riverside Hotel and Last Jelly Roll, a recounting of Clarksdale's blues elders. The CD was recorded at the Clarksdale Sound Stage, a top-notch studio run by Gary Vincent, and features young Clarksdale musicians Lee Williams on drums and Jeremy Horton on bass.
- Scott Barretta-Clarion Ledger
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Born on a plantation in 1962 in Farrell, Miss., Terry “Big T” Williams has been singing and playing the blues nearly his whole life. Named "Blues Guitar Player of the Year 2009” on March 29 he was inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society’s West Coast Hall of Fame. Big T was very young when his family moved from living on a plantation in Farrell, Miss., to a tiny home in Clarksdale, Miss., where he and his 15 siblings grew up in a poor neighborhood with their father, and their stay-at-home mother.
As a young boy, Big T was inspired by the blues that poured forth from the radio at home, and from the stories his grandmother told him about the great blues musicians, like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, who lived along the Delta. He’d often walk one block away to visit Ike Turner, and watch him and his band rehearse the tunes that one day would top the R&B charts.
At age 11, Big T met Johnny Billington, a renowned Delta blues musician and music teacher in need of a bass player. Billington put a bass in the young boy’s hands, and said he had been chosen to become his next bass player. While only in elementary school, Big T made day trips with Billington to play at clubs in nearby towns and small cities around the Delta. Four years later, Big T dropped out of high school and began traveling the country, touring with The Jelly Roll Kings, and later with The Stone Gas Blues Band, and Big Jack Johnson.
Through the years, he’s owned a few blues clubs, survived a stint at Parchman Farm, and put out a handful of well-received indie releases. He’s also backed up Big Jack Johnson in films such as Robert Mugge’s classic Deep Blues. His latest CD, entitled "Jump Back Big T's In The House," will be released by the end of 2009.
While on the road, Big T taught himself to play guitar, and in 2000 he began fronting his own blues band, which personifies his strongest influences: traditional blues, disco, funk, and hip hop. Big T has performed at blues clubs around the world, and has played at numerous blues festivals, including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, Wash., and the Russell City Blues Festival in Oakland, Calif.
Big T has recorded five CDs, and has sat in with the all-stars, such Albert King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, CeDell Davis, and Jimbo Mathus.
Additionally, Big T has served as a teacher at the Delta Blues Museum’s Arts and Education Program, training young children and adults to play the blues.
Links
