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 70’s, 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 Sandoval’s Mambo Band

                 Sax for Marc Shaiman’s score for ’07 release of movie Hairspray.

                 Sax and flute for David Foster produced ’07 release of Michael Buble’s  “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.

                 48^th 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 Jarreau’s CD “Accentuate the Positive”. Played sax with Queen Latifah on “Dana Owens CD” and performed with her on 46^th Annual Grammy Awards.

 

2003-     Al Jarreau World Tour and session work

 

2002-     44^th Annual Grammy Awards, sax on “Lady Marmalade” with Christina             Aguillera, Pink, Maya and Patti La Belle.

                Became  Al Jarreau’s 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 Soundtrack“For 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       
Aguillera’s 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 Tamia’s 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 Won’t Do For Love”.

 

1992-95 World Tour with Al Jarreau, including three Carnegie Hall dates.

 

Other Highlights:

 

Nelson Mandela’s International Tribute For A Free South Africa, Wembley Stadium,

keyboards with George Duke’s 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 Quincy’s latest, “Q’s Jook Joint, as well as all projects of Quincy’s 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 “What’cha Gonna Do For Me”.

 

Barbara Streisand: arranged and performed woodwinds on three songs for “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Anymore”.

 

Aretha Franklin: string and horn arrangements for Hold on, I’m 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 If’s first release on RCA.

LARRY WILLIAMS

 

            

             ARTISTS TOURED WITH:

                   

SEAWIND

QUINCY JONES

ARETHA FRANKLIN

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

AL JARREAU                                   STARSHIP

PRINCE                                             SIMPLY RED

GEORGE BENSON                      JON ANDERSON

PAUL McCARTNEY                     THE CRUSADERS

MARY J BLIGE                               VANESSA CARLTON

ERIC CLAPTON                             JODY WATLEY

                PHIL COLLINS                              THE JACKSONS

CHAKA KHAN                               CHERYL LYNN

ARETHA FRANKLIN                   BONEY JAMES

JAMES INGRAM                           CHRISTINA AGUILLERA

MICAHAEL McDONALD           BB KING

BARBARA STREISAND             DR. JOHN

FRANK SINATRA                         EARTH WIND AND FIRE

MANHATTEN TRANSFER        THE BROTHERS JOHNSON

TOTO                                                 PAT BENATAR

PATTI AUSTIN                              HEATWAVE

DAVID FOSTER                            THE YELLOWJACKETS  

WHITNEY HOUSTON                JONI MITCHELL

GEORGE DUKE                            RANDY CRAWFORD

SEAWIND                                       HIROSHIMA

BONNIE RAITT                             THE TUBES

IVAN LINS                                     MELISSA MANCHESTER

DJAVAN                                           JEFFREY OSBORNE

MILTON NASCIMENTO            NEIL DIAMOND

LARRY CARLTON                       JOHNNY MATHIS

JOE SAMPLE                                THE POINTER SISTERS

DAVID SANBORN                       SHEENA EASTON

 

ROD STEWART                           PINK FLOYD

LAURA BRANIGAN                   ROGER HODSON

BRENDA RUSSELL                   ELTON JOHN

THE COMMODORES                BERNIE TAUPIN

KENNY ROGERS                          RICHARD MARX

JENNIFER HOLIDAY               DIONNE WARWICK

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 HENLEY

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 McDonald’s hit Sweet Freedom, Klymaxx’s Man-Size Love, and Ready For the World’s 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.

                                                          Quincy Jones

 

 

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 I’ve 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. He’s 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

janet@janetmargolis.com

 

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” –

 

Los Angeles, CA --- Grammy-nominated producer, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist (keyboards, saxophones, flutes, clarinet), Larry Williams is a non-stop music machine. For over thirty years, Williams has kept his music passion alive, performing and co-producing with the greatest of the great artists. Recently, Williams has toured South Africa, Australia and New Zealand with George Benson and Al Jarreau in support of the CD, “Givin’ It Up”, on which he played keys, arranged and co-produced three songs. This historic pairing features Benson and Jarreau with Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Marcus Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jill Scott, Patti Austin and Paul McCartney. Williams helped pull this record together with John Burk of Concord Records. It was nominated this year for three Grammy’s and won two. Their World Tour continues this summer throughout Europe. Williams is currently producing, arranging and playing on Al Jarreau’s first-ever Christmas CD.

 

Williams will be performing on sax at the Hollywood Bowl June 17^th with Arturo Sandoval’s Mambo Band, and just finished playing on Mark Shaiman’s score for the ’07 release of the film “Hairspray”, as well as playing sax and flute on the David Foster ’07 release of Michael Buble’s “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. Blige’s performance at the 48^th 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

“I’ve 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