Q & A with Jamie Williams

Jamie Williams has dedicated his life to making music. It has been in his life from the very beginning. His father was a snare drummer in the Royal Regiment, and he also plays guitar. Although an excellent guitar player, he never did it professionally for any length of time.

Jamie remembers his musical beginnings.

"There was always a guitar in the house. From a very early age I remember playing away on it. There was always a pair of drumsticks kickin' around too, which I would bang away with. When I showed an interest in drums, my dad had me do rudiments on a pillow — very uninspiring. However when I was around nine years old, I got a shiny new blue snare drum and cymbal for Christmas.

"When I was twelve years old I started my first band. We would play dances in the gymnasium of a nearby school. I can only remember having a repertoire of about a half-dozen songs, so I don't know how we did it.

"When I got into High School, I was exposed to a whole new world. Being from a very small town, I'd never seen a "real" band live before. I loved going to the concerts at school, seeing the bands that were popular at the time. This is when I made the unconscious decision, that this is what I wanted to do. I never did take any formal lessons or anything, and I actually failed music class in High School. The teacher didn't appreciate me playing the theme from M*A*S*H on the flute instead of what I was supposed to be playing."

You have been a solo performer for most of your professional life. Tell us about some of your early band experiences, and why you utlimately chose the solo route.

"I joined a touring band when I was eighteen.This was the first taste I had of what it was like to be playing professionally, on a nightly basis.The band toured constantly. The band members travelled in an old econoline van,and the three-man roadcrew travelled in a five-ton cargo truck, carring the equipment. Although, at the time I did enjoy it, I could see that it was something that would lose it's appeal as I got a little older. Ultimately, the band members went their seperate ways. Playing was, and is the only thing I've ever wanted to do. Finding myself musically alone and unemployed, I decided I couldn't wait around for another band, so I made some phone calls. In a matter of about a month, I lined up some pub gigs where I would just have my guitar and harmonica, sit on a barstool and bang out "Neil Young" and "Simon & Garfunkel" tunes. I realized very soon thereafter, that this was in fact not a bad way to go."

more to come....