Jason D. Williams, of Memphis, is a world-renowned pianist, singer, songwriter, and stage performer. His hard driving, boogie woogie style is often compared to that of Jerry Lee Lewis, and pulls from rockabilly, rock and roll, country, and jazz. Mostly self-taught, Williams was playing by the time he was 3 years old. At age 9, he started taking piano lessons from a local piano teacher in his hometown of El Dorada, Arkansas. He started touring with rockabilly pioneer Sleepy LaBeef when he was 16, and eventually broke off on his own to launch a performing and recording career in Memphis. He counts among his influences everyone from blues pianist Booker T. Lowery to Memphis Slim to classical artists to jazz greats like Phineas Newborn. “Plus,” as Williams says, “a lot of good, left-hand boogie-woogie players. And all points in between. I was a mixing bowl combined with a sponge.”
“I could watch anybody entertain,” Williams explains, “from Al Jolson to Jerry Lee to Cab Calloway. And I would take a little bit from each of them. You had to be able to tap dance, balance stuff on your head. And play upside down. And I got all that from people like Sammy Davis, Jr., and watching old episodes of The Lawrence Welk Show.”
As part of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program this year, Williams is teaching his son Canyon Williams his eclectic style of boogie woogie piano. “Piano players in this style are not very common,” Jason Williams says. “In fact, the majority of pianists that are in popular music today are chording and not truly performing. The rocking, rockabilly-style of piano, with country and blues influence and origin, is closely identified with Memphis and Sun Records, and early rock-n’roll, and should be preserved in performing and recording.”
For Canyon, this opportunity has emerged from an environment he has experienced his entire life. “I’ve traveled with [my dad] since I was 3 days old and continue to this day when I am not at school. I would like to learn to play the piano in the same boogie woogie style. Besides my dad as a huge influence, I have started listening to a large range of piano players and musical styles. Ray Charles has become one of my favorites, Little Richard, Moon Muligan, Fats Domino, Memphis Slim and just about anyone else my dad introduces me to. I love sitting with my dad and spending time with him. My goal is to just enjoy what the music brings me. It’s relaxing and I want it to always be a part of my life. I wouldn’t mind getting on stage with my dad either!”
