Warren H Williams

Born in Hermannsburg, west of Alice Springs , aboriginal Arrernte man Warren H Williams first started playing guitar with his father’s band at the age of six. He was brought up on country music but also pursued the pleasures of rock and roll. Country music was in his blood however and Warren soon went back to country as a songwriter, recording artist and talented multi-instrumentalist. He is a versatile live performer, much in demand as either a solo or duo outfit or with his full band.

Warren spent much of the past 3 years touring with John Williamson & Pixie Jenkins on their seemingly endless Reunion tour. The trio recorded a live album, Mates On the Road, in 2004 and still continue to perform together regularly taking in all states of Australia plus overseas shows. The most recent tour, starting in regional Victoria in May 2006 showcased the Chandelier of Stars album recorded together during 2005. Warren & John are also in pre-production for their next album of duets to be recorded later this year and supported by further touring under the title of “Stone and Wire Tour”.

This past 12 months have been extremely rewarding for Warren winning “Artist of the Year 2006” in the National NAIDOC Awards as well as Song of the Year for “Learn My Song” at the 2006 NT Indigenous Music Awards. He also won “Most Popular Song 2005” for his all time favourite “Dreamtime Baby” and Male Artist of the Year 2004 at the inaugural NT Indigenous Music Awards. His new album “Be Like Home” has had 5 singles licenced for release on different national compilation albums. Warren is also currently in pre-production for a documentary about his life, working on a musical play he wrote for children called the Magic Coolamon, consulting on a play with Sydney play writers and orchestral scorers for a musical on the life of Strehlow and participating in the Petrol Sniffing Implementation Team helping with public awareness of Opal Fuel.

Warren’s latest album, Be Like Home, (released October 2005) features 12 original songs plus a cover song of She Don’t Like Diamonds. Many of these songs were written on the road – in dressing rooms back stage on John Williamson tours over the past two years so feature themes of travelling and missing home.

Places In Between, the previous album (May 2002) of original rocking country songs, was also influenced by the time spent touring during 2001 to promote his previous album. A grant from the Australia Council to complete this album has ensured a top quality production team working to produce this great album.

Where My Heart Is (Deadly Sounds Album of the Year winner for 2001) is Warren's third album of original country ballads, the sounds of which cross readily into mainstream listening. The focus is on his unique vocal style, where rocking calypso feels intersperse the romantic stories of remembered loves and homeland yearnings.

He shares this 1998 released album, Country Friends & Me, with invited guests John Williamson, Greg Champian, Jimmy Little, Johnny Chester & Ted Egan . The duet, Raining on the Rock, with John Williamson is one of Australia's most recognised country songs ever. This 18 track CD features many of Warren's original songs and several co-productions with other famous artists who dropped by CAAMA studios during the recording.

Western Wind was Warren's first album, recorded at CAAMA in 1995 using many top quality Territory musicians. The full band rocks this album along with some great up tempo songs. He is a prolific songwriter and will go to great lengths to perform and promote his music live – touring the remote communities of Central Australia and all the way across to the big city stages.

The highlight of Warren H Williams’ career was to receive a standing ovation when performing at Tamworth festival in 1998 with John Williamson and he has since toured all over Australia including regular appearances at Tamworth & other major Country Music festivals. Corrobboree 2000 in Sydney, Yeperenye Federation Festival in Alice Springs, Royal Melbourne Show, Stompem Ground in Broome have all been in the tour diary recently.

Warren is a regular DJ on CAAMA Radio playing all his favourite country tunes and encourages many of
the newer artists of all musical genres in the area. He is in high demand for his guitar skills and can often be seen helping out on stage, in recording studios or penning songs for his many friends and talented family in the music industry in the Northern Territory.

For more information contact:

Record Label - CAAMA Music
PO Box 2608, Alice Springs,
Northern Territory 0871
Ph 08 8951 9711 or email c.shop@caama.com.au

Manager – Jenny Pender
PO Box 8584, Alice Springs, NT 0871
Ph 0408 816 735 or email j.pender@bigpond.com

See also Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/warrenhwilliams