Legends in the Music Industry with Joey Williams

You've got and stuff. Things you see on TV. Tell me where's your new dream. You got, you said that you got to stay, even though you think you put your money away for the future open free.
One day, you get it back in everything you read. Lots of things you see on TV. Tell me where's your, where's your faith. Come on, Peter. Let's play a little bit.
try to do it for yourself.
You said, man.
Hey, what's up everyone. I have Joey Williams with me today. I'm super excited. What's up, Joey and also tuning in is Nikki Scorpio. Joey Williams was born in Brooklyn and he was raised in Queens and New York city. Whew. Yeah. Yeah. His father made a lasting impression on him and gave him his first guitar when he was six years old. That's early. Yeah, it was meant to the stars.
It was never for you. So Joey is a part of The Blind Boys of Alabama and they have five Grammys and Joey received a lifetime achievement award that was presented to him from Jimmy Jam, from the famous Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. He is unbelievable and amazing spirit and amazing soul. And I'm so honored to have him on she's all over the place. Hey Joey, thank you so much for being here. Definitely. So we are in the days of the lockdown. I mean, I remember seeing, I mean, we did the, the sophisticated psychos variety show together and yeah.
And then, you know, it was amazing. And then you are going to be on tour. You're going to Australia, you in south Australia and then like, you know, two weeks after lockdown, I'm looking at your stories and you're the only one in the airport and you know, you were coming home and you had to stop the tour with the Blind Boys. Right?
Well, we actually didn't have to stop it. We were blessed enough to have gone the whole tour. And that was actually the end of the tour when I was coming home that time.
Got it. Yeah. Tell us some stories about the Blind Boys. What are like, what's a favorite story you could share with as the viewer?
Oh my goodness. I've been with them over 20 years, so, oh my goodness. Where do I start? But the last tour was one of the most memorable, one of the most memorable, because we were going to some countries that was safe during this pandemic. So it was a special thing because everybody else was going through shutting down and everything. And every place we played, like Sydney was open. But then the day after we left Sydney, they shut down and then we'd go to another place. Melbourne when we leave there, it's shut down. But all of these places we played over there, we played places in Australia. We hadn't played before and they had loads of people. And I mean, looking out, seeing all those, you know, 20 and 30,000 people and 50,000 in places I look back and I go, you know, there's no way, you know, I don't know when I'm going to see that again, you know?
No. Yeah. It was on the New Zealand and soon as we get to New Zealand, they share Australia. Now you can go back, you know, and soon as we left New Zealand, which was the last day, which like the 15, 16, 17, something like that of March coming home, as soon as we went across the border, you know, they ship New Zealand down and which was one of the most safest countries to be in at that time. It was all my friends and family were telling me, get home, get home. We want you home. You know, we're scared. And I was in the most safe place
And you're champion and all the Blind Boys they're champions to, to be able to, you know, cause they're, you're the youngest out of the Blind Boys. So they were, you know, traveling during that time is everyone's safe. Everyone quarantined for 14 days. And
Yes, everybody's been in ever since we've been back, Jimmy has been home every time I talked to him, I said, you're all right. He said, yeah, man, I'm just, I'm just here. I'm just sitting here, you know, listen to the radio, watching TV, listen, you know, so I'm just eating he's home and we all are. I talked to Reiki, so we're just trying to do something, you know, while we're at home and try to get some social media presence, you know, something that we're not used to because we're always on the road.
Right, right. Yeah. You have to get with the, you have to build up a social media marketing team to help get the Blind Boys more known on a digital platform for the, the younger generations, I guess. So, yeah. You're about to set up the whole production shop of like videos and cameras and editing and all that stuff and, and do some jams together. Right. And do some like online shows and stuff.
Yeah. That was a challenge for us because the live stream concerts and things like that were going on and people going in the studio recording, but you remember, I fell as a, up in age now, so they're pretty high risk. So we couldn't get together. And we all live in different cities and states, but that means we would have to get on a flight or something like that and go, somebody has to fly for us to get together. A few of us would have to, and that would, you know, maybe present a problem with them, you know, that nobody's feeling safe enough to travel like that for us to get together. But we all trying to do stuff online, like Show maybe unreleased documentary stuff or never seen concert footage, something like that.
Yeah. Cool. And like a collage of photos of the legacy that you all have together. I know, I know. I need to see that. Especially the youth, you know, to understand the, the jazz and the soul and the blues and the culture of, you know, the original song that you guys have brought to life into so many stadiums across the nation.
Oh yeah. We bring the soul to the gospels to wherever we go.
Yeah. So, I mean, let's just dive right in. I mean, you you've been to the white house three times, you performed for president Barack Obama, George W. Bush and bill Clinton. Yeah. How are those experiences? Are there a highlight from one of them that you can, you want to share with us?
I guess it's all three were different in the, in a different way, because one, we were there and it was Hillary who spearheaded that, and that was for the national endowment for the arts. And we have received that award that year. And they wanted us to perform that particular year, which was my first time. That's what, that was my first year with, with the boys. And it was a funny story. It was a, one of my first time that I didn't, I was so new. I didn't have one of those outfits. They wear the uniforms that they wear the suits. I didn't have it. So I think we received some sort of a check, I think, like maybe $10,000 or something, which comes with the award. And they said, well, well, we got some news for you. Well, you know, we're getting a 10,000 and you can have a thousand of it, but you'd have to have a suit on like we did.
So now in between soundcheck and actually playing, I'm running around through Georgetown, in DC, trying to find a suit with a white shirt and stuff, but, and me and my wife, we both, or down in Georgetown surgeon and, but we did find it and we enjoyed that. Oh yeah, yeah. And we didn't find it. And that was, so that was one funny part about the George Bush visit or while we were taking the photo and we were all lined up and he and Laura Bush was separated and you know, guys sprinkled in here and there and he's like, eh, total clearance of George. I got my eyes on you over there. You know, I see you over there with my wife, you know, he was good.
We didn't really realize, you know, Presidents have down there like that. So that was cool. And then perform with, for Barack Obama, the guys was just, you know, they were just really, really taken back because they never dreamed in their lifetime that they would be, you know, they would even be a black president and much less, you know, us actually much less us actually meeting him, you know, and performing there, you know? So that was real special. Yeah. That was a real special,
I'm sure I'm Obama and his wife. I'm sure they're like really big fans of you and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
Oh yeah. There, they were enjoying it. It was them and her mother, his mother-in-law and the two kids, two girls, they were all there clapping and standing and
No it was filmed. So maybe when you do these montages, it'll be something that will be included. Is it on a YouTube somewhere where people can,
Yes. It's on YouTube. It's about Blind Boys at the White House
For great footage and visceral moments. Just go to YouTube and type in Blind Boys of Alabama. Yeah. That's so cool.
Yeah. You get lots of stuff. Lots of stuff. There, there, we've done things that most people like, they just don't know about. You know, it goes, unless you just know on follow us, you wouldn't know we're in certain movies, you know, different things like that.
We have a short white house story. I mean, seriously, it was, I was invited to go. It was only, it was a 200 person dinner. So it was 100 people. And then they could bring a guest and Obama was, it was, it was a dinner. It was the Christmas dinner. It was a Christmas dinner at the White House. And I was invited and because of like all the tax and what happened and everything had to send in your passport and they had to see your passport, double, double, extra security. But I went through a breakup and I was so in such a bad place, it was really, really bad. And I couldn't muster up to get on the plane to go.
So I was invited to go to the white house dinner. I know. So I don't regret too many things in life, but that, that I think about sometimes it's not just like really came up cause that's an epic experience and be invited to go to the white house, you know, but I mean, who
Knows maybe one day, you know, Nikki Scorpio over here will get invited to go perform at the white house or maybe I'll be invited again as a guest or, you know, like, you know how it is, you took Monica, you can take one person. It'd
Be that Viv. And I love being invited to places I'd never been and I've never been to DC. And so I, I really want to go and anyways, I blew it. I completely blew it. I admit it. I also had an experience where like, I could have gone to Vegas, you know, after not going the other alternative was my friend or boyfriend were in Vegas. And it was like the opening of the Encore, the other one, then the Encore was like opening of Encore or something like that. Come, we'll go to the spa. We'll be in the spa for the whole entire time. I just, I just couldn't get out of my bed to get onto a plane.
Not even for 45 minutes. I just, I couldn't do it. So that's how bad the breakup was dark place. But yeah, it's like, you know, it's like, yeah, but there's, there's dark and there's light and there's up and down. And that's the thing about being an artist, you know?
Yeah. You, you, you know, sometimes, you know, you're going to miss out on some opportunities. This one sticks out in my mind where that I've missed, that I really, really wanted to be there. And I was going to that's back when I was touring with Blind Boys and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. And during that time we were on the Eric Clapton tour and going back and forth. So during that tour was a festival called Crossroads. And that's something that Eric Clapton puts together. And he has everybody who's, you know, anybody who plays guitar, you know, and I mean, from the top, from the Bebe's to buddy guy, I mean to every, everybody is there and we were on that Robert Randolph and the Family Band, we were on that.
And it was two, three days of that. And I was due to get in, let's say on that Saturday or the day they call family band to do it was on that Friday, which was the same day I was in Nebraska with a Blind Boys. And then the next day when I came, they had already did that, but I was home for the rest of the tour, but I had missed that festival. And I mean, they had everybody plays guitar, everybody, you know, and being the guitars, you know, that really bummed me out because I really wanted to be there for that one. But I saw the next day, you know, as a, as a fan, you know, in the audience, but I did want to kind of perform there and that's called Crossroads Eric clapping. He does it every year.
Sometimes life has a way of
Intentionally having us miss things, because we don't know what would have happened. If we were shown that maybe something would have happened, that wouldn't have been in our best interest. So sometimes it can be emotional to miss out on things, but who knows, you know, we're, we're here to this day. And thankfully, as artists were able to express and in music and transform people's lives through music, you know,
I hear the birds, you hear the birds.
We, no, the windows are closed.
I love hearing the birds. I love hearing the birds here around like four or 5:00 AM or being away. It's so pretty. It's just so amazing.
And I also got stuff, frogs and skilling, since the water is happening, you know, the pool we just opened the pool last week or last Friday. So the process they were in it, they were like all around.
So yeah, I mean, you've been on David Letterman, his late night show. You've been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Colbert Report with even hold there. Let's talk about some of those experiences. How was that for you?
Well, that all of the shows were awesome. I love doing those, those shows back in the days, you know what they all post, but I'm David Letterman. The first time we did David Letterman with the Blind Boys, Paul Shaffer sat in and a couple of other people in the band. I think Paul Shaffer and Pam, the only two that set in, but that was like so exciting to me. Cause I grew up watching David Letterman. I love the, you know, the Late Show Band, always dead. And for, for Paul Shaffer to actually be, you know, playing, you know, sitting there when we did people get ready, it was that first time I'll never forget. And I did a solo on that show and I was saying, Ben Harper recorded that with us, but he wasn't there.
So I sang his part and I did the solo that he did. And yeah, so that was, I tried, I tried to hang in there with those guys,
I guess. I mean, seriously, it's like you win. I've seen so many artists perform. And then when I, when I saw you perform live, it's just like the way you just Shrum that guitar string, the string. It's just like, it's like, there's something that's so magnetic and vibrant and alive about it. I mean, you definitely have the magic touch and the magic sound from,
I love it. Oh yeah. I love it. I love, I love it. You know, that take note. It takes me, it takes everything away, you know, everything. So I just love it.
We can't wait to get back with you in person so we can jam out in person together. Again,
I can't wait. I can't wait to Jimmy. I just wanted to, you know, like I was just saying, I wanted to play with somebody so bad, you know, just sit in or know, just, just, just Jam like alive, you know, playing it's just so you know, you didn't realize, you know, we were taking this for granted.
You have no idea. Like I got a studio, I got four Mike that got a producer sofa. I got the area where like the engineer, like does the computer stuff where the artists records. I mean, for like the musicians to come over and just jam. And Nikki is one song, like, what's the name of it, motorcycle. And it's like, you're going to be perfect on it. And I envisioned we were going to come over and we're having you over when you came back from, you know, from the tour and just like TML and get on the song. And I mean, we're still gonna make it happen, but like, it's so wild being in an isolation.
And it's like, I've been able to record and I release angels and rainbows a few weeks ago, which is really cool. And Nikki did the drum and bass for the first time he produced the send you the video, but yeah, it's just, it's so well, so I'm happy. I'm happy. Like I set a studio up to be able to create, but you know, I can imagine like all the artists out there, man, I'm like, I really feel for the artists who, who don't have like a home set up and stuff, or it's difficult that they can't be like performing and expressing themselves, you know? And then it's, you know, which equipment to buy and to spend money during a pandemic. So you can ask them to do something, you know, I'm, I'm very grateful that I was already, you know, set up and everything like that
To get a Joey Williams hologram going on over here. So
Yeah, you can, you can play all day. You can play on that. You can get sad and then get the, you know, pick up the or music and do it all day and all night. But doing it with someone is a whole nother thing. You know, you can't get the, yeah, you can't get that same feeling. You know, we will, you know, trying to try to reinvent myself, trying to do,
We've definitely been watching some stuff or there was groups that were performing and it was more like a prerecorded stuff where like the drummer would lay down as part in, you know, basically lay down their part pardon and keep it going like that. They would kind of like a mock-up performance, not that all that school since people can't be around. So there's definitely, there's ways of doing it, you know? And it's been interesting to see different artists, how they're more, just some people are just hanging out and just dancing with their fans and with their friends. And it's more about, you know, the human inaction right now, more than ever. I think now we're all, we're all reinventing ourselves, you know, and, and connecting more with, you know, with, with the people that fuel us and keep us going.
So I think in, in some sense, it's,
You're an inspiration for people and yeah, more, more people definitely need to, you know, the, in your presence in here, your vibes and everything,
You could probably go live with some fans that have instruments and probably do like a jam session or something like that.
That'd be fun. A lot of people like that, everything's about like engaging and interacting and I mean, you're used, so when we're ourselves, you know, like, we're like, oh yeah, this is what I do in south bend to, to other people. It's like, oh my God, just to do, just to do one thing out of all the things you've done in this world is like a dream come true for most people, you know? But your people I'm so excited. I mean, I'm going to share the story of how we met. Let's talk about that for a second. In 2005. Oh my God. My dear friend, Robert Sterman, he's an amazing artist. And he was asked to do the cover for the Grammys for 2005.
And of course, you know, the night before the Grammys, they have an honorary of event where, where were we?
We were at, yeah, I'm trying to think in Los Angeles.
Yeah. It was just, it was, it was the night before the Grammys and you know, Robert's like signing his autograph. He's just, you know, everyone's just in line and stuff and, and there's Joey with the Blind Boys and, and there's me, of course. And it's just like this magnetic connection. And we've been friends ever since.
Yeah. 2005, I wasn't quite sure what year. That was 2005.
It's been such a beautiful blessing to be able to watch you blossom through the years and just witness your greatness. You know,
That was good. I had, I was there with my brother. My brother came to that one because my brother Dana, we were at, at that night, whereas the, what do you call it? The nominee party. That was the nominee party. Right, right. Where we get our tags and take pictures and stuff. Yeah. He came with me to that. Monica gave up her plus one to my brother.
That's very kind of her and Robert, Robert can have his plus one and Robert sermon and I was his plus one. I mean, how cool is that? Right. So many cool things together. And then Nikki does edited the lyrical video for angels and rainbows. And you know, a lot of the first responders in the video, a lot of that is all Roberts photography. So I'll send it to you so you can. Yeah. He's just so inspirational. And so he had to invent re-invent himself. He started with the Grammy poster. It's off of polarized at the opera, Kodak polarized.
And even if he lights the drawing with tools, you know, while it's processing and then Kodak announced, it was, you know, years ago, maybe, I don't know, six, seven years ago, they announced they're discontinuing it. So he bought up as many as he could and stuck them in the freezer because you have to preserve them. But when he's done, he's done. And he had to reinvent himself as an artist because he's a living artists, you know, most people with like, oh, okay, they're they've passed on or something. He had to totally reinvent himself. And when we did a whole series together that, you know, it's that people can do it, but his, his photography is amazing. Do you follow him on Instagram?
I'm going to connect you two. So you guys can find each other. Same is how I know you.
That's right. Yeah. That is dumb.
I have a question cause I, I know you performed at the Grammys, Kanye Mavis staples, John legend. And what's it like, cause it's like, when you're performing in front of people, you're, you're performing in front of fans, but what's, what's the energy like when you're performing in or with colleagues and people that are in the industry with you,
It's really, really cool to get that reaction that we get from our peers out there. And it seems like I tell you, everybody loves the Blind Boys, you know? And then when we do what we do, we receive so much love from, from the audience. I mean, you know, we just had a small part. I think we did a couple of courses or something. We Kanye with that whole thing. And I tell you when we came out, people were just so surprised to see us. And it was so happy to see us and they're like, cheers, it's such a cool thing. So something like that to hit, see them kind of giving it back is so cool. Same thing with Robert Randolph, family van. We did that as well.
We played the Grammys and it was an outcast parliament Funkadelic, George Clinton, earth, wind and fire. And we all did like a little funk section. You can pull that up with both of them up on the Grammys. And we, when we came on and I mean, they just gave it up so much, you know, he saw all the big guys, you know, that we look up to, you know, in the audience and like jamming and like fist in the air, you know? So it's such a great feeling to see the people that's doing it and doing it bigger than you are really digging, you know?
Yeah. I was definitely thinking while, while you guys were sharing, I think it would be so cool to reach out to Kanye now. Like, and y'all like, get a song together. That'd be really sweet. I mean, seriously, we need the gospel soul more than ever people here. It needs to be inspired. So, you know, we just need to like blast the room. So The Blind Boys of Alabama are like front and center of heart and soul.
Yeah,
Definitely. Yeah. With all this time you have, you're even offering lessons for people who want to guitar. So maybe like girls, boys, you know, whoever all ages, if you know, they want to learn guitar, you're, you're offering lessons. Right.
I am offering lessons online, zoom lessons, private one-on-one. Yeah. And I've also done some chills sessions as well, but your session is when they call and they don't want to actually learn how to play a guitar or they may just be a musician or a fan. I had to come, the fans have called as well, just to call and ask me questions like those, some of the stories I'm telling you, you know, 20 years with Blind Boys and 15 with Robert Randolph, I got loads of stories and they're just asking me, what was it like to, you know, record with this person and record with that person and perform with this person, you know? So those stories and those things are chill sessions.
It's whatever they want, whatever they want to do, whatever they want to talk about.
Yeah. They just want joy right now. And just to smile and hear stories. I mean, that's what makes the girl, the world go around the story. So how can people get in touch with you on Facebook, your email, Instagram.
Yeah. I'm on Joey Williams on Facebook and J O E w I L L 17 on Instagram. Instagram is Joe will 17. And the Joey Williams project is on Facebook as well. I'm teaching on live lesson masters. Do you pull that up and look for me? And I'm teaching some rhythms, some soul guitars I'm teaching guitar that, you know, not everyone can actually do. It seems easy, but it's not. It's kind of, you know, it's different, you know, I don't know if this as difficult as I'm making the scene, but you know, there's techniques to it. And I'm teaching that, you know, everyday now and little vocal harmonies and stuff like that, teaching and I'm doing the chill sessions and that's what live lesson masters I'm interested.
I'm intrigued. Yeah. It's been some fun things. You know, we were talking about jamming before and sometimes, you know, you sit back and forth and me and the students started sharing jamming by accident.
I think it'd be really sweet also if there was like, you know, a couple of abuelas they're like anniversary or something, and it was a surprise guest from like a family member to their mom and dad or something session with you, or there's like jamming out and, and listening or just having the stories. That's really sweet of you. You're so sweet.
Yeah. They were also done the same thing on the same vent along those same lines. They do, you know how those like watch parties and stuff like that, do those as well, or live less than masters. We get together, you know, like you can call it and we'll watch something together. You know, I think Robert Randolph did it with the draft NFL draft. So it was different things that, you know, we all get together and watch the making of, or something or just celebrating birthday or father's day or anything like that, you know? And they have all the, all the fathers or they're all online. I'm just, you know, I'm willing to do whatever to do, especially for those fans and people who I've been down with so many years, I was just on one last night.
It was the best thing. Yeah. Last night it was about, yeah, it had to be like 30 of us on there. And it was just, Yes, yes. That was one of the great ones to the Disney movie brother Bear that was back in, I guess I can't remember exactly the year, but we went into Capitol records to do this. And the name of the song is welcome. And Phil Collins did the bridge on it. And I couldn't believe I was doing a bridge Brookfield college. I couldn't believe, I couldn't believe it because he was another one that I grew up knowing. I mean, from his drama days, you know, with Genesis and stuff like that. So, I mean, I've been a fan, you know, really all my life since I was young, you know,
I knew about him because of my mom, you know, but it's like epic. It's like Phil Collins Thing. It's like Joey Williams, like,
And to be right near those cats, I'm like, oh my goodness. But it was, it was, it was really, really awesome. Disney treated us great. I really enjoyed that whole experience. The whole brother Bear experiments.
Tell us about like, you know, one of your movie experiences from like maybe like, I dunno, the universal pictures one you did HOP.
Oh yeah. Well with that, well, actually a story with that Brother there is I flew my sons, two of my sons down to Florida where they were premiered and I took them to the premier. And after we got there, we were watching a movie, they went and found some friends and stuff and invited them some, I guess, a little girlfriends and stuff. You know, this brought him in with them because we had extra tickets. And while we were watching the song comes up. When we lay the tracks, everybody laid at different tracks, Clarence fountain, George Scott, you know, Jimmy Carter and me, we all Late different tracks, but we didn't know where they were being placed. So we're listening and listening. And then I hear my voice, you know, and my sons looking over at me and then I hear another run of mine.
And then I hear me again. And then like, I'm all through this. There's a whole song. And now they're all laughing. We're all laughing. And I'm like, oh man, I couldn't believe that they were actually letting my voice rain through throughout the whole song. So exactly. And then we did HOP the movie HOP and universal pictures with a bunny who loves playing drums. And he, yeah. So he wanted to give up Easter cause he was like the designated Easter bunny and they wanted to give that up. He wouldn't do that because he wanted to play drums. So we came into play and we were in the studio doing a song and did money came and came into the studio while we were rehearsing or recording. And he snuck on the drums while Ricky was out know, I guess, at the bathroom or something.
But he didn't think the guys knew because they were blind. So Jimmy said, he said, wait a minute. We recognize out that's not you. That's not Ricky. So yeah. So that was an awesome experience. First time. And I had a speaking line and that too
Van those unions that they they're the craft service and those, oh yeah. I bring it
Out
Of this. You know, I'm all about craft service, man.
Yes, we are actually we're in another movie. Madea goes to jail or to Tyler Perry's movies. We sing when they're taking her to jail, we're saying nobody's fault. But mine that's us singing that
A lot of responsibility right there. You got a message out. Tyler Perry, yo yeah. You need to contact them and be like, yo, like I'm in it to win it. And don't forget about Me. I will come to Atlanta. I will come there
And I can drive from here.
I will get there. No problem. I will just get there. And I will cause you have to quarantine for like for 14 days before you can even go on to a set. So we can, we can go quarantine in Atlanta.
That's right. That's right. Do the 14. And it gets worse.
Yeah. So what are some words of inspiration for the listeners? You know, words of wisdom, quotes, books, something, something you want to say that, you know, choices you've made that you've done. And, and you're like, Hey, like go for it. What, what are some like thoughts and words on that
Advice to all the musicians, if you love it, you know, stay with it. You know, a lot of people have it and they know they have it and they stay with it and they still don't get where they think they should be. A lot of people think they have it and don't have it and they get a little further. So I say, if you're a singer, sing everywhere, sing as much as you can, you know, musician, same thing, perform for free, play for free, you know, same for free, you know, don't limit yourself. If you think you can't, you know, try it anyway. You know, if you think it's too much you'll you'll know. So I just took to me, I say, just keep doing what you're doing. If you, if you know, that's what you destined to do and you'll know that's what I'm doing.
And I stayed, I stayed, you know, faithful and I stay prayed up, you know, and always seems they always seem to make a way out of nowhere, you know, make it or think I'm not gonna, I don't know, be somewhere on time, just, you know, things as little as that it happens, what's going to happen now that there's no live gig checks coming in now, you know, I don't know what I'm going to do then now is the YouTube. And now there's this that I never thought lessons and stuff. Like I never thought would be what I get from the world. I get to get lessons from a legendary person. I
Like the, there's a quote that says something along the lines of, to your point, if you think you can't or you think you can either way you're right. You know, that, that belief and that faith of yours I'm sure is taking you to, you know, miraculous places, just being able to, to keep that faith. I know that for every human being, there's always those breaking moments. I think I have a, I have a good question for you. If you could go back to when you really got started and we're really right at that point where like, I can make money doing this now where you're at, what would, what would you tell yourself
At the beginning of this? The first thing I would say, if I'm making money, save a lot of it, save more than you did. You know, I saved a little, you know, but I, I spent a lot, but having said that I have enjoyed the heck out of my lifestyle. So I mean, you know, there's that double-edged sword, you know, I can look back now and say, you know, man, I wish I hadn't done this or I spent this or whatever, but then I had such a good time doing it.
I think that's, I think that's more, more important than enjoyment. I I've seen something else on a bunch of different walls where they interview, you know, senior citizens and, and they say, you know, like the same kind of thing, like what do you regret? Or what do you think? And it's like, there's more of a focus on enjoyment. Don't work so hard. Don't, don't stress yourself out, you know, make sure that you do things to, to really even, even if it feels a little stressful in that point where you're like, Aw, man, I wish I had more money. Hey you, and you enjoyed it. You know what I mean? And you have those moments where you shared with equal and you know, and who knows, who knows what branches and what blossoms from that instead of the frustrations and regrets of saying like, this is probably that, you know, having that faith and keeping that strong to say like, this is taking me to a great place, you know?
Right.
Yeah. Speaking of faith, I want to circle back around to, you know, inspiration of morals and ethics because doing the, the gospel soul and having your faith is, is one direction of like the holy spirit of the divine light. There's also the separation or in the illusion and desperation of sense. You're doing things for free and then people are desperate and then people cross those invisible boundaries. Those lines get crossed. And if you're a female or male, I mean, it happens to a lot of people. And I know it happened to me. I am not like all a victim, like woo is me. Like it happened to me, but I had experiences along the musical journey where people cross boundaries and were really like cutthroat about certain things.
And so, you know, what are some rules of thumb? Like what you would do, what you wouldn't do by, you know, sticking to your faith and, and more of the business side of it, you know, that fine line of like, oh, like, cause there's, it's not like you're going to an office nine to five, you're going to like an office meeting. Or sometimes you do go to an office meeting. No one's going to meetings out. But you know, for the people who are maybe networking with someone online or someone who's networking with something, how much is too much, or like listen to the little voice inside. Like, but even if you know that little voice, like even we have that voice as humans, we go against that little voice or that little voice isn't loud enough, you know, we have different circumstances and stuff.
So what are some great things that you can say to help an artist on their journey and to stick within the parameters of their safety and their health or for their journey?
Well, I believe like if you feel strongly about what you're doing, what you have to offer, I say, keep that, got it. And make sure you charge accordingly and whatever it is you're expecting, you know, stick to your guns and try to get that. Now, starting out is one thing you starting out, do you have to take a lot of, you know, unless you're extraordinary, you have connections or something, unless you have that, you have to take some things that you wouldn't want to take. You have to do some things for free, but things that outside of your moral boundaries, you know, so I'm just automatically thinking that we're not going to go outside of that, but you do things that you wouldn't go in there and do like, you know, play for free or for free, or just playing for somebody who knows somebody or sitting in front of somebody who knows somebody.
And don't mind doing that when you're going with someone else. If you are a plus one going to a concert and you're backstage with artists that you don't know, you want to be the last person in the room to say anything, you know, unless somebody is gesturing to you or speaking to you, things like that, going into a place and being the loudest person there. And then you look around and you're the only one talking and
You're not going to get invited again. Yeah. Here's open. Yeah. Definitely.
Sometimes, you know, there's, there's a, you know, a lot of things that you learn.
Yeah. I mean, during this time, I mean, since you're doing the lessons and stuff, are you also open to maybe mentoring and coaching people with certain things then as well?
Definitely. Definitely at some of the chills to sessions, turn into, turn into that because along with Q and a, and tell me a story, or how was it working with this person then there also as well, how do I keep going on in this business? Or how do I try to approach auditioning for this band? Or, you know, different things like that. You know, we've all done, you know, auditions and stuff. So there's, you know, there's a way and you know, so they ask these different kinds of questions. So yeah, definitely open to mentoring and given what I know I've got over 30 years, maybe a 40 since I've been doing it because I started as a kid,
Just takes one person. So it's like that one person who has the insight of like the information of like the inside. I mean, it could go different directions of like jingles commercials, movies, TV, or it's like the gossip of like, yo, this tribe of people who are doing music. They're like, yeah, you want to get in and out. Or this, these people are like quality and they're not going to like, you know, stick it to you with like a bad deal later on or mean, cause you read what you read in the gossip magazines or online or people's history. But when you're on the inside and you've been doing it for over three decades, then you have inside scoop of like, you know, the, the Legends live on and go on. And then, you know, like who's who, and what's what, and you know, those, those important things that you need to know. Cause there's people obviously, you know, in the industry who are just like, don't have the best intentions, especially if they're preying on new people.
So to have someone someone of your stature and nature and the nurture that you can provide is so awesome. And your father. So like he can provide that to the people that you're coaching and it could be people of all ages,
All
Ages. Yeah. So where in the world haven't you gone that you want to go
See? Right. You know what? I want to go to Dubai and never been to, I never been to Dubai. A couple of my friends been there, but does a place like I used to see and hear, but I've never been live. We've been up in every continent in the world.
Well, I have some friends that are on lockdown, so I've been invited and I haven't gone yet. So when you go, let me know and let's go together and we'll, we'll have a really, really good time. One of the places I want to go to
Austin recently,
How many times have you been around the world?
Let's say several. Yeah, several. I suppose to be in Europe right now. We're supposed to, we're supposed to start on the 3rd of May and we supposed to be coming back next week or this weekend, the 30th or something like they were coming back round the world many, many times
Out of all the instruments you've played. Do you have a special baby unique one? That's your favorite go to?
Yes. I have two of my favorites. One, her name is Goldie and I say, she's a fender Strat custom. I got it from the custom shop in Orlando musicians. They know that one crossed the street from the house of blues from over there and Duesenberg. I have a Duesenberg that I play in. I love and her name is doozy. And that wouldn't do that. She's special because Prince actually did play that guitar. There have a red Duesenberg and he came to a show and I didn't know, Jimmy Carter was in the audience and you know how he goes out into the, to the crowd and we onstage and a guy tapped me on the shoulder and I go, then he goes principals to come out and I go, what?
It's his principles to come out? And I go, what? And then he turns around and points to the, to the dressing room. And I looked back and princess standing in our dressing room while we were on stage. Wow. Yes. So I go, oh yes, he can come out. Yes. He comes out, he's clapping, you know, looking out. And they all remember Jimmy is out in the crowd and the audience. So everybody's looking at Jimmy, nobody even notices Prince, you know, on stage. So he's like, you know, the clapping and maybe trying to go to the mic or whatever. And then he couldn't figure out what to do. So I gesture. Do you want the guitar? So he gestured back with his hands in their head, like, yeah, give it to me. And I took it off right.
Then gave it to him. I had a stool on the stage. I said, if you don't want to strap, you can sit on the stool. He sat on the stool and he started jamming. Like he's been jamming with us forever. And yes, he played and he played for a good, I don't know, five minutes or 10 minutes or something like that. And he got up, gave me the guitar back and he stopped over at the piano, play piano with Jason. Crosby was Brian at the time he stopped over there, play with him for a second and then left the stage. And we didn't see him anymore until like one of those Grammys.
Wow. Oh my gosh. I wish I, I wish I was there in person. I wish I was there for that moment.
Yeah, it was. So it was, it was so crazy and it was a small place. It was a place in, I think there's a knitting factory or something like that in LA.
I remember the knitting factory.
It was right there and they caught like, this is like 30 seconds of something like that on, on YouTube. You can look for that. Like Prince sits in with the Blind Boys or something like that.
I can't believe I wasn't there. Like
I know. And it was in LA too. I can't believe that.
I can't believe that was in there. I missed that on the white house. I missed out on you and Prince. I mean, I thought, I thought I had it together, but I am not. I'm starting to think actually I who guys gotcha.
You must've been out of the country then. Cause I knew you by that. So yeah. Yeah. You were in the rare,
It was in the winter. The summertime, maybe it was summertime. Maybe I was on a yacht somewhere. Let me, maybe I was like sailing on, you know, in the south of France While I was sailing around the yacht. I rather have been with you in France. FYI. If I was at a movie set, I got to make that money. Cool. Well, yeah, I would love to play a couple of your songs from the Joey Williams project that would love to play, you know, a song or two from the Blind Boys. So that'd be, that'd be really cool for the listeners to hear which one, which one should I play from Joey Williams project.
And which one should I play for from a Blind Boys?
I'll give you a choice of two for the, for the project. One is called daddy's guitar, but that his guitar is me talking about my father, teaching me how to play. You know, he didn't teach me a lot of things. He didn't teach me how to drive or work on cars or anything, but he did teach me how to play guitar. So it's a story about that as a song about that. And the other one is one of my favorite Bob Dylan song serve somebody and Jimmy Carter from the library. He does, he does a verse and another one of my friends Spanky. He did a verse two. So there's that. And then from The Blind Boys of, I guess from the latest a song I co-wrote with one of my boys, Steve Ray Latson and Jimmy Sloan, and it's called, I can see.
And that's on the almost home album.
Oh yeah. Yeah.
That'll be awesome. Cool. All right. Well
Appreciate it. We appreciate you. And we'll close out with that and I would definitely love to have you back on she's all over the place in the near future.
Okay. Well, I'm so honored to be on the podcast and don't forget to check me out on all the platforms and go check out Blind Boys of Alabama website, which is Blind Boys dot com and maybe shop for some merge or something like that, you know, help us out while we are unable to travel right now,
Legends in the arts, for sure. Yeah. You heard it first from the musical director of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Joey Williams. Give it up. Everyone whoop amazing. So my dear friend rock and roll. God bless you. I love you so much. Take care. You take care of
You
Too.
And the road yard.
Thank you so much for joining us and we'll see you next time, Kyriaki, over and out.