You may not recognize the name, 'D. Vincent Williams'; however if you've been a country music fan for any length of time, you've probably heard his songs.
For example, "I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts:
D. Vincent Williams had a hand in writing all of these hits, as well as many others, for various country artists.
The evening of July 17, 2012, Williams performed at least part of the above songs, plus others, for the crowd gathered at the Bing Lounge. Even before the show began though, Williams could be found wandering amongst those in attendance. While the audience dined on catered food, Williams made the rounds, introducing himself to each guest; asking names and answering any questions people had.
One person asked what the "D" in his name stood for. I didn't catch the whole conversation, though I did hear that "Vincent" was in tribute to some of his family members. The "D" is for David, which is his first name.
When it was time to start the show, Williams and his band were already onstage and ready to go, instead of waiting in the green room to be introduced. The show itself seemed to be a continuation of what had been going on earlier; with great music thrown into the mix.
To say the least, Williams, (and his band, for that matter), is very warm and personable. Almost from the start it felt as though Williams had been a long-time friend. He talked, joked, and told stories like he'd known everyone there his whole life. As he told the audience at one point, he and the band like to have fun; they check their attitudes at the door.
If song writing weren't enough, Williams is a singer as well; which is why he was at the Bing Lounge. After landing a record deal almost immediately after hitting Nashville, he saw the deal fall through, and turned to songwriting instead. The same thing happened to Williams again a few years later, and he stuck with songwriting after that, until Keith Steagall convinced him to record his own music. Steagall is known for working with some of Nashville's best artists, most notably Alan Jackson.
During his Bing Lounge performance, Williams showcased the vast variety of music he writes and performs regularly. As he explained, he wanted his album to show all sides of him. He wanted each song to be able to stand alone, yet mesh together to make a strong album from start to finish. From the performance given, it's safe to say Williams has achieved, if not exceeded, his goal. As one person said, every song Williams did was a winner; there wasn't one song the person would skip on Williams' new CD.
Though Williams is classified as a country musician, he definitely isn't just a country singer. His songs are tinged with a bit of everything from pop to rhythm and blues; still staying true to the country genre. After a particularly soulful number, KUPL's Danny Dwyer told Williams it was like listening to a mix of Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles.Yet another audience member was reminded of the Charlie Daniels Band while listening to another Williams tune. I found these diverse comparisons interesting, especially since *I* heard a mix of two other artists; The Zac Brown Band and Phil Vassar. Especially Phil, when Williams was playing keyboards. Yet, even with the comparisons, Williams' writing and singing are strong enough to give him his own unique style and sound.
D. Vincent Williams' single that will be released to radio later this month is called, "Down By the River". As with the other tunes, Williams explained how the song came to be written. In addition, he was telling how he wants to have a song that's a classic, like Alabama's "Mountain Music", or "Fishin' in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He wants to be one of those artists who has a song that's still popular 25 years, or more, from now. I'm thinking his dream might come true from the sounds of "Down By the River".
Of all the shows at the Bing Lounge in the last two years, D. Vincent Williams' performance was definitely one of the best ever. If this man comes anywhere near where you are, go see him, you won't be disappointed!
