The Usual Suspects
Gio Washington-Wright's L.A. Studio Musicians Tribute Site
Larry's sax-playing father started him on clarinet when he was eight and by the time he was 13, music was what he most enjoyed. Three college scholarships (music/teaching/academic) took him to New Mexico State but he transferred to Indiana University where he met horn players, Jerry Hey and Kim Hutchcroft. Larry got within 6 hours of a degree and quit. His playing, writing and arranging talents have always been one of Seawind's many strong points and as a member of the Seawind Horns, he has been heard on countless platinum recordings.
LARRY WILLIAMS
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Musician, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Multi-Instrumentalist
(Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet and Keyboards)
Formed seminal Grammy-nominated band Seawind in the 70s, which recorded four albums.
Present- Al Jarreau World Tour and George Benson/Al Jarreau US Tour.
Recorded 12 tracks for new release from reunited band Seawind for 2007 release.
Performance on sax at Hollywood Bowl June 15 with Arturo Sandovals Mambo Band
Sax for Marc Shaimans score for 07 release of movie Hairspray.
Sax and flute for David Foster produced 07 release of Michael Bubles Call Me Irresponsible.
2006- Co-Produced, Arranged and played keyboards on George Benson/Al Jarreau CD Givin It Up For Love (Concord/Monster release date Oct. 24, 06). CD features Herbie Hancock, Jill Scott, Paul McCartney, Marcus Miller and Vinnie Colaiuta. Completed US Tour with Benson/Jarreau and Al Jarreau World Tour.
Played sax on Jerry Hey arranged Academy Award winning movie Dreamgirls.
48th Annual Grammy Awards- woodwinds for Mary J Blige performance.
2005- Al Jarreau World Tour and session work (Pussycat Dolls and others).
Played US Symphony dates with Al Jarreau
2004- Arranged and played acoustic piano on Jarreaus CD Accentuate the Positive. Played sax with Queen Latifah on Dana Owens CD and performed with her on 46th Annual Grammy Awards.
2003- Al Jarreau World Tour and session work
2002- 44th Annual Grammy Awards, sax on Lady Marmalade with Christina Aguillera, Pink, Maya and Patti La Belle.
Became Al Jarreaus keyboardist/saxophonist and toured Europe/US
Toured Japan with Seawind vocalist Pauline Wilson in support of Sony CD
Larry Williams & Friends.
2001- Arranged Storm show, Mandalay Bay, Main Room, Las Vegas.
Live performances with Quincy Jones.
Recorded HBO Movie SoundtrackFor Love of Country, Arturo Sandoval Story.
Larry Williams & Friends CD on Super Audio released by Sony with
major promo push and in-store display.
2000-1 Five orchestra arrangements and played woodwinds for Christina
Aguilleras Christmas Special (ABC).
Arranged #1 hit Genie in A Bottle for Latin Grammy Awards and played sax.
String arrangements for Maya pop tune for the film ATLANTIS (Disney)
1998-99 Six week European tour on sax and keyboards with Whitney Houston.
Co-wrote, tracked and overdubbed Al Jarreau song, Flame for his latest
recording Tomorrow, Today.
Keyboards and horns on smooth jazz and other recordings by:
Boney James, George Benson, Patti Austin, Lee Rintenour, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Larry Carlton, Mark Antoine, Richard Elliot, Earth,Wind and Fire, Vonda Shepperd, Vanessa Carlton (A&M), Gabrielle Anders, Norman Brown, Simply Red, Chaka Khan, Steve Tyrell (Tonight Show appearance), Samantha Mumba.
1997- World Tour with Lee Rintenour.
Reunited with Quincy Jones for Tamias latest recording on Quest.
1995- Michael Jackson History recording in New York.
1990- Montreax Jazz Festival band hosted by Quincy Jones.
1994 Big Mountain: arranged horns, performed tenor sax and flute solo for #1 platinum hit: Ooh, Baby I Love Your Way
Go West: arranged horns for hit What You Wont Do For Love.
1992-95 World Tour with Al Jarreau, including three Carnegie Hall dates.
Other Highlights:
Nelson Mandelas International Tribute For A Free South Africa, Wembley Stadium,
keyboards with George Dukes All Star Band for Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt, and Natalie
Cole.
Michael Jackson: Thriller(largest selling record of all time), Off the Wall,
and Bad (Featured on keyboards and sax synth solo on Speed Demon).
Quincy Jones: Featured on all cuts of Grammy-winning record-of-the-year, Back on the Block and Quincys latest, Qs Jook Joint, as well as all projects of Quincys since 1978.
Sheila E: The Glamorous Life sax solo; produced by The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
Eric Clapton: August produced by Phil Colllins, keyboard programming with Greg Philinganes.
Manhattan Transfer: Brasil arranged and performed four cuts featuring L.W. and Stan Getz.
Al Jarreau: This Time solo and keyboards on Spain; and World Tour 1981-82.
Chaka Khan: keyboards, horn arrangements, tenor sax and flutes on the hit album Whatcha Gonna Do For Me.
Barbara Streisand: arranged and performed woodwinds on three songs for You Dont Bring Me Flowers Anymore.
Aretha Franklin: string and horn arrangements for Hold on, Im Comin.
Frank Sinatra: sax on L.A. is My Lady.
Boz Scaggs: co-wrote and arranged Claudia from Other Roads on CBS.
Starship: co-wrote with Grace Slick and Tommy Funderburk the rock track Babylon on Platinum release No Protection.
Co-produced Brazilian superstar singer/composer Ivan Lins record Love Dance in 88,
Awa Yio. Co-produced, co-wrote, arranged and performed on own band, What Ifs first release on RCA.
LARRY WILLIAMS
ARTISTS TOURED WITH:
SEAWIND
ARETHA
AL JARREAU
GEORGE BENSON
WHITNEY HOUSTON
DAVID FOSTER
IVAN LINS
DAVE GRUSIN
LEE RITENOUR
ROCHELLE FERRELL
ARTISTS RECORDED WITH:
QUNICY JONES GO WEST
MICHAEL JACKSON BIG MOUNTAIN
PRINCE SIMPLY RED
GEORGE BENSON JON ANDERSON
PAUL McCARTNEY THE CRUSADERS
MARY J BLIGE VANESSA
ERIC CLAPTON JODY WATLEY
PHIL COLLINS THE
CHAKA KHAN CHERYL LYNN
ARETHA
JAMES INGRAM CHRISTINA AGUILLERA
MICAHAEL McDONALD BB KING
FRANK SINATRA EARTH WIND AND FIRE
MANHATTEN TRANSFER THE BROTHERS JOHNSON
TOTO PAT BENATAR
PATTI
DAVID FOSTER THE YELLOWJACKETS
WHITNEY HOUSTON JONI MITCHELL
GEORGE DUKE RANDY CRAWFORD
SEAWIND
BONNIE RAITT THE TUBES
IVAN LINS MELISSA
DJAVAN JEFFREY OSBORNE
MILTON NASCIMENTO NEIL DIAMOND
LARRY
JOE SAMPLE THE POINTER SISTERS
DAVID SANBORN SHEENA
ROD STEWART PINK FLOYD
LAURA BRANIGAN ROGER HODSON
BRENDA RUSSELL ELTON JOHN
THE COMMODORES BERNIE TAUPIN
KENNY ROGERS RICHARD MARX
JENNIFER
AMY GRANT BRIAN WILSON
DIANNE SCHURR REUBEN BLADES
BOZ SCAGGS JULIO IGLESIAS
KENNY LOGGINS ROBERTA FLACK
WAS (NOT WAS) VICTOR FELDMAN
STEVIE NICKS LALAH HATHAWAY
DAVID CROSBY DON
PAUL YOUNG LYLE LOVETT
DIANNE REEVES TRACY CHAPMAN
STEVE VAI WILCO
ANA GABRIEL NIK KERSHAW
THE WINANS THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS
ANDRE CROUCH RANDY NEWMAN
EROS RAMAZATTI
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL
RAY CHARLES
AL. B. SURE!
MOVIES
RUNNING SCARED (Feature film starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines) co-wrote soundtrack and score with Rod Temperton; arranged and performed all parts on Michael McDonalds hit Sweet Freedom, Klymaxxs Man-Size Love, and Ready For the Worlds I Just Want To Be Loved.
WHAT THE PROS ARE SAYING
.
Larry Williams versatility is amazing, his arranging is impeccable, and his playing is without peer.
Larry Williams brought his unique talents to Off the Wall, Bad and Thriller.
Michael Jackson
Our Time Has Come
.has to be the most powerful song Ive recorded since Tear Your Playhouse Down
Larry Williams on keyboards, programmes and sax - what a wizard!! Brilliant!
Paul Young
The brother plays his ass off
his arrangements are magical.
George Benson
Larry Williams has played woodwinds, keyboards and arranged for me. I love his work.
Ron Fair,
President - A&M, Geffen Records
Larry Williams has been with me for 30 years. Hes my main man.
Al Jarreau
Larry was an integral part of the George and Al CD ...his contributions as an arranger and producer were invaluable.
John Burk
Exec. VP A&R-Concord Records
If you want a first rate musician on keyboards and sax, call Larry Williams.
Eric Clapton
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Janet Margolis
310-231-9903
LARRY WILLIAMS IS KEEPING HIS PASSION ALIVE!
-Coming off a World Tour with George Benson and Al Jarreau, Wiliams is ready to hit the European trail along with working on a new CD with his re-united band Seawind
Williams will be performing on sax at the Hollywood Bowl June 17th with Arturo Sandovals Mambo Band, and just finished playing on Mark Shaimans score for the 07 release of the film Hairspray, as well as playing sax and flute on the David Foster 07 release of Michael Bubles Call Me Irresponsible.
SEAWIND TO RELEASE NEW CD Williams will be co-producing, arranging, playing keys/woodwinds on the long-awaited release of the new CD from his original band Seawind
with Al Jarreau doing a special guest performance.
THE LIST GOES ON. As a universal artist and producer, Larry Williams has worked on some of the most important albums and film releases in music history. Having played sax on the Jerry Hey-arranged Academy Award winning movie Dreamgirls and woodwinds for Mary J. Bliges performance at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, Williams has had the privilege of working with the best in the business including:
Al Jarreau and George Benson, Quincy Jones, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguillera, Pink, Maya and Patti La Belle, Queen Latifah, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Jill Scott, Paul McCartney, Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Boz Scaggs, Grace Slick, Marcus Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta, Boney James, Patti Austin, Lee Rintenour, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Larry Carlton, Earth, Wind and Fire, Vonda Shepperd, Vanessa Carlton, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Ray Charles, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, George Duke and David Foster, The Jacksons, BB King, Joni Mitchell, Ivan Lins, Djavan, Milton Nasciemento, Brian Wilson, Reuben Blades, Don Henley, Wilco, Lyle Lovett and Randy Newman.
About Larry Williams
Ive been lucky enough to experience the exciting and totally positive energy of pure music at the highest level Larry Williams
For over thirty years, Grammy-nominated producer, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist (keyboards, saxophone, flute, clarinet), Larry Williams has been performing with the greatest of great artists and contributing his vast musical talent to the most important films and concert events in music history. Williams has kept his music passion alive by continually striving to work toward breaking down and transversing boundaries in music to appreciate different music without categorization. Williams is married to film producer-writer Denise David Williams and is the father of two children, Kyle and Evan. The extent of what Larry Williams has already accomplished as an artist and producer, is massive in scope and continues to build, earning the respect of audiences, media and professionals throughout the world. For more information visit www.seawindjazz.com