Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams grew up surrounded by music, hearing her grandfather, Rusty Williams, play the piano or guitar with a hint of the Nashville Sound, inspiring her to pursue the art as well. He wrote and recorded a series of songs in the 70s that never saw the light of day—until now, with help from his granddaughter and her bandmate, Zac Farro.
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Rusty Williams is releasing his debut album, Grand Man, on Farro’s Congrats Records on February 14. According to a press release, her grandfather would often talk about the album, but she had never heard it. She and her bandmates didn’t even believe the record existed, but Rusty’s old production partner recently unearthed the old recordings. The question of what to do with the album had a simple answer.
“So many people our age are mining these albums for tones and things you can’t even replicate,” said Hayley in a press release. “And Grandat has a way of cutting to the core of a feeling, and not overcomplicating it. Which we tend to do, because the world is hard. It’s nice when you can hear something plain and simple and know that it is true.”
Farro added, “I thought that it was a crime that these songs were sitting there on the shelf.” Congrats Records has shared the first single from the debut, “Knocking (At Your Door).” It’s a relaxed, lilting guitar tune that evokes Herb Alpert and Burt Bachrach, and Rusty’s vocals are smooth and groovy.
[RELATED: Watch Hayley Williams and Cyndi Lauper Perform “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in Nashville]
Hayley Williams and Bandmate Zac Farro Help Grandat Rusty Williams Finally Release His Debut Album
Rusty Williams practiced the art of music all his life. Almost everything he did was imbued with song. He started singing as a child, belting popular songs from the top of his lungs on the swings in his backyard. He was in the church choir, wrote poetry, joined a few bands, and played drums, guitar, and piano. Commercially, he wrote the occasional jingle for local businesses. According to his wife, Sharon, even the birth of their son, Joey, was an occasion for music.
“Rusty even played music during labor,” Sharon recalled, as quoted in a press release. “He sang Joey into this world.” Rusty made music on his own terms, refusing when Nashville plugger Dan Wilson Jr. told him to make his songs more country. “I ain’t country, I don’t want to be country, so I can’t do it,” Rusty recalled saying.
While he had some local radio success with “Knocking (At Your Door),” the extent of his musical talent went largely unknown, even by his own granddaughter. However, he introduced her to music and powerful vocalists who would weave the detailed tapestry of Hayley Williams’ singular artistry—he showed her The Temptations, Elvis, Bread, The Shondells, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, and Gospel music, as well as playing his own music for her, teaching her how to play the drums, and nurturing her artistic spirit.
Rusty also shared his thoughts about the record being released, stating bluntly, “I don’t expect anything, and I’m too old to be famous.” He added, “But I just want to know someone liked what I did, and to be touched by whatever the hell they are listening to. I want people to see how it felt when things were real.”
Featured Image by Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
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