Vern Williams
Encyclopedia
Vern Williams is generally accepted as the father of bluegrass music
on the West Coast of the United States
.
Williams’ public performing career began in California
in the late 1950s and continued regularly for almost 40 years, earning a reputation as a uniquely talented, raw and edgy “high lonesome” tenor
singer and mandolin
player who inspired countless musicians on the West Coast of the United States
and well beyond.
Born in Newton County, Arkansas
in 1930, Williams began playing music with his family at an early age. He moved to California in 1952 with the Marine Corps and continued to play music, first with his younger brother John Jr., then in a much celebrated partnership with Ray Park beginning in 1959, and lastly beginning in 1974 with his own “Vern Williams Band”. Versions of these groups also backed up country-bluegrass legend Rose Maddox
on two studio recordings and numerous personal appearances.
Vern’s impact on bluegrass music, especially in California, cannot be overstated. He made several seminal bluegrass recordings, was recognized by the State of California by official acknowledgement and tribute in 1987 and by official commendation in 2001, received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Award of Merit, and was the first to be awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the California Bluegrass Association. His song arrangements continue to be used by numerous bluegrass artists.
A videography about Vern was produced in 2004 and can be viewed at the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro, Kentucky
. His recordings are widely available. Vern's last performance was as a guest on Open Road’s Lucky Drive, recorded in 2005.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
Williams’ public performing career began in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the late 1950s and continued regularly for almost 40 years, earning a reputation as a uniquely talented, raw and edgy “high lonesome” tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
singer and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
player who inspired countless musicians on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and well beyond.
Born in Newton County, Arkansas
Newton County, Arkansas
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population is 8,330. The county seat is Jasper. Newton County is Arkansas's 46th county, formed on December 14, 1842, and named for Thomas W. Newton, an Arkansas Congressman...
in 1930, Williams began playing music with his family at an early age. He moved to California in 1952 with the Marine Corps and continued to play music, first with his younger brother John Jr., then in a much celebrated partnership with Ray Park beginning in 1959, and lastly beginning in 1974 with his own “Vern Williams Band”. Versions of these groups also backed up country-bluegrass legend Rose Maddox
Rose Maddox
Roselea Maddox , better known as Rose Maddox, was an American country singer-songwriter and fiddle player.Born in Boaz, Alabama, Maddox was the singer in the Maddox Brothers and Rose....
on two studio recordings and numerous personal appearances.
Vern’s impact on bluegrass music, especially in California, cannot be overstated. He made several seminal bluegrass recordings, was recognized by the State of California by official acknowledgement and tribute in 1987 and by official commendation in 2001, received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Award of Merit, and was the first to be awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the California Bluegrass Association. His song arrangements continue to be used by numerous bluegrass artists.
A videography about Vern was produced in 2004 and can be viewed at the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. His recordings are widely available. Vern's last performance was as a guest on Open Road’s Lucky Drive, recorded in 2005.