David Williams (guitarist)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = David Williams

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_place =

| birth_date = November 21, 1950

| origin = Newport News, Virginia, U.S.

| death_place = Hampton, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|3|6|1950|11|21}}

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|disco|funk|soul}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Guitarist|singer|songwriter|record producer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass guitar}}

| years_active = 1968–2009

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Chanson|Michael Jackson|Madonna}}

}}

David Williams (November 21, 1950 – March 6, 2009){{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-mar-16-me-passings16.s2-story.html|title=Obituaries / Passings / David Williams| work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 16, 2009|access-date=April 27, 2020}} was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as a prominent session guitarist for stars including Madonna and Michael Jackson.{{cite web|url=http://bryanferry.com/david-williams/|title=David Williams (1957–2009)|website=Bryan Ferry.com|date=May 20, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000788562|title=David Williams|publisher=AllMusic}}

Background

Williams grew up in Newport News, Virginia. At a young age he was influenced by Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery and other jazz artists.

Career

Williams later began his professional music career with The Dells, a R&B group. When he went on to serve in the Vietnam War his career was put on hold. After returning to the U.S. in 1972 he moved to Los Angeles reuniting with the Dells. He also worked with the Temptations at that point. Soon he established, with bassist James Jamerson, Jr., the R&B group Chanson. Chanson released the 1978 single "Don't Hold Back" which rose to No. 21, #11 and No. 8 on the Hot 100, Dance Club and Hot R&B Songs charts respectively.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chanson/chart-history/hsi/|title=Chanson: Don't Hold Back (Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chanson/chart-history/bsi/|title=Chanson: Don't Hold Back (Top R&B Songs)|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chanson/chart-history/dsi/|title=Chanson: Don't Hold Back (Dance Club Songs)|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chanson-mn0000673211|title=Chanson|publisher=AllMusic}}

Substantial success didn't begin until he was brought to Michael Jackson's attention by Everett "Blood" Hollins, who had heard Chanson on the radio and was impressed with Williams' guitar playing. He was hired to play on Jackson's 1979 album Off the Wall. He was also featured on every song but one (second only to Tito Jackson) for the Jacksons' 1980 album Triumph. Williams played on the Jacksons' 1981 concert tour, which was recorded for the album The Jacksons Live!

Williams became a popular session guitarist, playing on albums by the Pointer Sisters (1980), Peter Allen (1980), Aretha Franklin (1980), and the Four Tops (1981). In 1982, he worked with Michael Jackson again on Michael Jackson's Thriller album, where his signature funky strumming and a minimalist solo famously anchor "Billie Jean". Williams performed on Jackson's album Bad (1987) with hit songs including "Bad", "Dirty Diana" and "Smooth Criminal".

Williams became one of the most in-demand pop music union session guitarists for the next decade, recording again with Aretha Franklin or with Madonna, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald, Melissa Manchester, The Temptations, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Shalamar, Go West, ABC, Boz Scaggs, Karen Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Julian Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Chaka Khan, Paul Hardcastle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Diana Ross, The Crusaders, Andraé Crouch, Eddie Murphy, Herbie Hancock, Peter Cetera, Whitney Houston, Monkey Business, and more.{{Citation needed|reason=References needed|date=November 2022}}

He made a contribution to films singing lead on the song "No Negatives of You" which he co-composed with Bill Kinzi and A. Shapiro. It was in the Nico Mastorakis 1987 directed comedy Terminal Exposure.InterFilmes - [https://www.interfilmes.com/filme_v3_150469_Terminal.Exposure.html Terminal Exposure >> Trilha Sonora]Chronological Scores / Soundtracks - [https://chrono-score.blogspot.com/ Terminal Exposure (1987)] Unfortunately it wasn't included in the soundtrack which was released by Notefornote Entertainment on August 12, 2022.SoundtrackTracklist.com - [https://soundtracktracklist.com/release/terminal-exposure-soundtrack/ Terminal Exposure Soundtrack, Review]

Though he played on a number of tours with Michael Jackson, Madonna and others, Williams remained a behind-the-scenes union session player.

Personal life and death

He is the father of former Lizzie McGuire and Raise Your Voice star Davida Williams, singer Dana Williams. Dana Williams has a son, Skyler Stein. David Williams died of cardiac arrest on March 6, 2009 in Hampton, Virginia southeast of Williamsburg at age 58.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/michael-jackson-madonna-guitarist-david-williams-dies-199853|title=Michael Jackson, Madonna guitarist David Williams dies| publisher=musicradar.com|date=March 11, 2009|access-date=April 27, 2020}}

Discography

Solo albums

Take the Ball and Run (1983)
Somethin' Special (1991)

References

External links

{{discogs artist|artist=David Williams (4)|name=David Williams}}
[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailypress/obituary.aspx?n=david-williams&pid=124990861 Obituary published in "The Daily Press" 10 March 2009]
[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3540440/ David Williams] at IMDb

Category:1950 births

Category:2009 deaths

Category:20th-century American guitarists

Category:21st-century American guitarists

Category:American rhythm guitarists

Category:Musicians from Newport News, Virginia

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American session musicians

Category:African-American record producers

Category:African-American guitarists

Category:Record producers from Virginia

Category:20th-century American male musicians