a m e r i c a n r o o t s m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n a l c o u n t r y • b l u e s • f o l k • a m e r i c a n a m u s i c • a m e r i c a n r o o t s
m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n a l c o u n t r y • b l u e s • f o l k • a m e r i c a n a m u s i c • a m e r i c a n r o o t s m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n
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Hillbilly Diamonds Volume 1 Van Williams Recorded somewhere late 1970s in Van William's home in Rayville, Louisiana |
| Track Listing: Do You Ever Think of Me I'll Be All Smiles Tonight I'm An Old Man Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind I Think I'll Go Home and Cry Letter Tied in Blue Gone and Left Me Blues Vagabond Dreamer I Told You So Yesterday's Roses Cross the Brazos at Waco The Intoxicated Rat Blue Yodel (Lucille) Yodeling My Way Back Home Groundhog Rootin' Old Pal of My Heart Van Williams was born February 16, 1926 in Rayville, Louisiana in 1926 and began playing music at the age
of 15. In 1945 while serving in World War II, Williams was blinded in both eyes by a sniper's bullet,
also losing both the sense of taste and smell.
After this unfortunate incident, Williams turned
his full attention to music and began performing in public in the mid-60s. Although his
professional career in music did not begin until well into middle age, it led him to
Folk Festivals throughout America, television appearances and ultimately to
the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
Van Williams gained countless friends and fans where ever he appeared. It was at a Jimmie Rodgers
Memorial Festival in Meridian, Mississipi's Temple Theater, that Willie Nelson approached Van
and asked him to appear on his show. The Louisiana native responded
kindly and politely, "Mr. Nelson, I'm not dressed to appear on your show tonight."
Nelson answered, "Mr. Williams, I'm not either."
For long years Van Williams has been referred to as 'America's Foremost Purveyor of Jimmie
Rodgers Music.' But Van was much more than just a Jimmie Rodgers singer. His love and knowledge
of classic traditional songs is incredible.
Professional recordings by Van Williams have been few and far between while false promises
and disapointments have been many. In an effort to bring fresh life to the talents of a most well
deserving person, Texas DJ, Eddie Russell and Lord Litter have assembled a CD entitled,
Hillbilly Diamonds Vol. 1 featuring rare recordings of Van Williams in his absolute prime.
All 16 songs on this album were recorded by Van Williams at his home in Rayville, Louisiana
somewhere in the late 1970s. Nothing fancy, just his voice and guitar. These recordings have
been passed around for ages on homemade cassettes amongst his many faithful fans. Now, hopefully
a larger audience will discover what just has to be some of the purest traditional
hillbilly / rural music ever recorded. You will even hear two modern era songs in George
Strait's "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" and Billy Walker's "Cross The
Brazos At Waco."
Ordering Information: Related Links: |
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"Since migrating from Cambridge,
Mass to Nashville some three decades ago, Mark Brine has carved out a strong
reputation as an uncompromising traditionalist on the country music scene which
has made him one of the elder statesmen of Americana."
-- Shaun Dale, Cosmik Debris Magazine
"Brine proves that if the world needed another Jimmie Rodgers, they've found one!" -- Pete Smith, Country Music Round Up "I could listen to him sing all night long … he does a good job that boy does." -- Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree "Brine could easily have been added to the cast of 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' without raising an eyebrow. He belongs to that group of artists whose individuality and quirkiness consign them to the periphery of what's commercially viable. But God bless him for not just being another cog in the musical wheel." -- James McSweeney, Flyin Shoes |
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"A fine young man who I think
has a great future."
-- Hank Snow, Grand Ole Opry "I think what makes Mark Brine such a gifted songwriter/storyteller is the fact that he seems to be such an obvious fan of many genres of music. He's someone who is like a sponge when it comes to reintegrating influences into his own work." -- Gail Worley, Ink 19 "His career has pursued the path of a truly independent artist - someone who follows his soul and does things his own way … his ability to write and produce has made his name synonymous with quality." -- Doug Floyd, AltCountryTab.com ©2006 Mark Brine Music. All rights reserved. |