On the Music Row Cover: Williams Riley

Label: Golden Music

Current Album: Williams Riley

Current Single & Video: “I’m Still Me”

Current Producers: Noel Golden, Derek George

Hometowns: Larose, LA; Nashville, TN

Interesting Fact: The band is named after the guitar player’s great-grandfather.

Outside Interests: Hunting, fishing, horses, cattle and thumb wrestling

Awards: American Country Countdown Superstars 2009, Voted Best New Country Artist on AOL for 2009

Musical Influences: Restless Heart, Bryan White, Edwin McCain, Hall & Oates

Favorite Records: Hotel California (The Eagles), Don’t Look Back (Boston), Flirtin’ With Disaster (Molly Hatchet), Defying Gravity (Keith Urban)

Band Members: Steve Williams—lead singer, acoustic guitar; Charlie Hutto—background vocals, acoustic and electric guitar; Derek George—background vocals, electric guitar; Travis Thibodaux—background vocals, keyboards; Joe Rogers—pedal steel guitar, fiddle, harmonica; Dave Guidry—bass guitar; and Nick Buda—drums.

Williams Riley lead singer Steve Williams was working in the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico when he passed along some of his songwriting work to popular singer-songwriter Edwin McCain at McCain’s concert in New Orleans. He won McCain’s support and eventually other top names in the music industry rallied behind Williams to help his music find a larger audience. Among those offering support is rock’s most famous guitarist, Slash, who joins country artist Bryan White and McCain on Williams Riley’s debut album.

That’s only part of the lineup of all-stars on the recording. Co-producer Noel Golden is an award-winning studio veteran who has worked with platinum selling artists Matchbox Twenty, Metallica, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Sammy Hagar, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack. Derek George, best-known as Bryan White’s primary collaborator, also co-produced. Besides Slash, other acclaimed instrumentalists on the album include A-team players Dan Dugmore, Kenny Greenberg and John Hobbs.

“I can’t believe how passionate everyone has been about what we’re doing,” says Williams. “Not long ago, I was just a guy writing songs in Louisiana. Now a bunch of my heroes are playing with me and my band on my songs because they love what I’m doing, that tells me that we must be doing something right.” Williams realizes that an album featuring McCain, Slash and White might sound diverse—and he says that’s exactly what it is. “I wanted to make a country album, but one that pushed against the boundaries and appealed to fans outside of country music too,” he says. “One reason I asked Derek George to co-produce was that I wanted the album to stay within the parameters of contemporary country music. The reason I insisted that Noel (Golden) co-produce was that I knew he’d push the boundaries and capture the energy that I wanted for this record.”