Ty Williams - A little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock-n-Roll

by Chuck Dauphin

Look in the dictionary for the definition of diverse, and you will find this description: “Composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.” Those words could be aptly used to describe the music of Country newcomer Ty Williams.  To borrow the famous opening song of 70s icons Donny & Marie, he’s a little bit Country, a little bit Rock & Roll, and many other styles in between.

In talking with the talented singer, he says that part of his wide range of musical influences stems from his moving all over the map geographically. 

“Well, growing up I moved all over the country, in a lot of different states.  It seems that no matter where I went to, I was mainly just following what my parents listened to on the radio.  When I was in Arizona, Country was always the base.  That’s what my mom’s side of the family listened to, and that’s what I grew up on, but I guess in middle school, I started listening to acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, so I was like a sponge.  I tried to absorb as much as I could---just good music in general.  So, when I decided to attempt to do this for a living, when I started writing songs, it was influenced by so many different styles and great artists.  Writing in the Country format represents being honest and being true to myself and the music, so I think that’s why it came out being a smorgasbord.

Williams says that his musical journey began with his upbringing in Church.  The Farnham Baptist Church definitely plays a part in his earliest musical memories.  “It really did,” he recalls.  “I didn’t miss a Sunday.  My parents were really strict about that, and my grandmother was in the church choir.  We’d go to Church and sing out of the hymnal, then after church we’d go to the nursing homes, and my grandmother would play in the afternoon, so that’s where I started singing in front of people, was with my grandmother on the trips to the nursing home, and we’d sing out of the hymnal for the ones who couldn’t get to church there, so that really was my first start.  It was a huge influence, and from there it was whatever I picked up in school-----whatever my friends were listening to, which was so many different things.”

Williams has just released his debut single, “Barn On The Rooftop,” and so far, the record has been getting rave reviews from both the media and radio alike.  MNN asked him for his thoughts on the single, and he said “It was one of the most fun co-writes I have on the album.  We wanted an up-tempo, positive, anthem type song that hadn’t been done before.  It says that no matter where you are, no matter where you’re from, you can have a good time being yourself.”

Listening to the music of Ty Williams is interesting because he doesn’t sound like anybody else.  Sure, there are shades of Presley, Brooks, and Cash that come through…..but at the end of the day, Ty Williams is his own man musically.  In this day of cookie-cutter soundalikes, that’s a refreshing change.  Another difference that people might hear is his love of the horns.  While the instrument has played an integral role in classics by Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins, as well as the underrated early recordings of Waylon Jennings, it’s not a sound that you connect with Country Music on a regular basis.  However, for Williams, it’s a natural choice.

“It was something I loved listening to.  When I was in Richmond, I was a big fan of Chicago, Delbert McClinton, and he actually came to town, and I had an opportunity to go listen to him, and the horns just added something.  I couldn’t figure out what it was, but it brought some kind of magic to the show.  I loved the sound, and my manager had a great idea when we did our first show----he brought in two horn players, and said let’s try it out and see what it sounds like.  We’re singing a lot of cover songs, and a few of the originals I had written to that time.  We got such a great response from the audience----this is different, this is fresh, but it’s reminiscent, of so many great bands, and it seemed to work.  So, when I got to Nashville, Shelby Kennedy, one of my producers, asked me why I had gotten away from the horns.  I said that I’d been doing demos, and really didn’t have a reason to bring the horns in.  He said, “No, let’s throw them on here, and see what how it sounds.  We did on three tracks, and it sounded so cool…it took the songs from 0-60.  It just worked for us!”

Something else that worked for Williams was his time spent serving his Country in the National Guard.  “I was fresh out of high school, and had gotten into Virginia Commonwealth University and the Citadel.  The whole plan was to join the National Guard, and work once a month or whenever needed, and to go to school while chasing my dream of the music business.  I know that some people feel they need to be in Nashville, but I wanted to have a backup plan.” That was his plan, but once he joined…….things changed quickly.  “As soon as I finished basic training, we were deployed to Iraq.  My unit was mobilized.  It was a quick transition.  I was gone for two years, and it was such an incredible opportunity---especially after 9/11….That’s what really inspired me to do it.”

That, and a long line of military and government service in the Williams lineage. 

I know that even in my family, my dad worked for the government his entire life, he retired, and continued to work in the private sector for the government after his retirement.  My grandfather served, my uncle did as well.  I think one of the most mature things I’ve ever done is to realize how immature I was coming out of High School.  That was my chance to separate myself and be my own man----to get more discipline that I needed for myself, and to be part of something bigger than myself----similar to Country Music.  It’s not about just one person, it’s about all of us together, and I love that feeling.  I had the honor to serve with some great people, and most of us came home.  The ones that didn’t---that’s the reason I’m here in Nashville.  We were flying home a C-130, and our sergeant looked at us and said ‘Look guys, we owe it to our friends who didn’t make it home to go out there and chase our dream---no matter what it is.’ It was the most powerful thing.  To this day, I think about it a lot.  It’s not just about me.  It’s about being part of something in a positive way.  Being a good influence for my daughter Kirsten, and a good role model for her…..If I can.”

His relationship with his daughter comes into full view on the poignant track “Runaway Balloons.” When asked if it was written about her, he said “Yeah, it was, but there’s a funny thing about that song.  I know how I wrote it, but I don’t know how people take it…it’s not about the singer side….but the time in Iraq and other jobs I’ve had.  The time that I’ve spent away from home, and it’s really for any working man or woman who’s away from their family.”

On the other end of the emotional spectrum is the humorous cut ‘Country Wanna Be.” Williams shared the story about writing the song with Music News Nashville.

“The story behind that song makes me laugh.  One of the jobs I had after Iraq was working for a property maintenance company, and I had the night shift.  My friend there, all he listened to was Rap…and I’m not against it in anyway.  I like certain artists, but he and I had this friendly competitive nature going between each other.  I would come in, and write a Country song during my shift, and we had all night to pound on each other with these songs, and he would write rap songs.  He told me one night that Country is the easiest format…I could do that in my sleep.  I told him to go home and write a Country song, and I would do my best to write a Rap song, and that’s the whole story behind that.  It wasn’t directed at any artist, just between one of my friends and I.”

It appears that Williams will be making a lot of new friends, with the success of the single and his self-titled debut disc for Cherry Heart, to be released soon.  He said that early indications have been great.  “Well, we’ve been out on a radio tour, and gotten a lot of great response.  We’ve gotten a lot of hits on the website, tywilliams.com.  Hopefully, ‘Barn On The Rooftop’ will draw people in so people can get a better look at what we do.  I hope we can meet as many people out there with the music, and hope we can surprise them with the album, and some of the other songs that are out there.”

With a team behind him such as Mike Borchetta, the legendary music exec who signed Tim McGraw to the dotted line, and Cherry Heart Music, I think he’s going to get his chance!