Paul Williams & The Victory Trio

September 8, 2009; 6:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

Bluegrass gospel
Russellville, TN

Listen

[audio:http://rvanews.net/folk_festival/2009/artists/PaulWilliams.mp3|artists=Paul Williams|titles=Paul Williams]

From The Brothers Burton

Scott says: Acoustic bluegrass music complete with epic vocal harmonies. I gotta say it: these guys are victorious!

Taylor says: Great old bluegrass gospel excellence. Seriously, there are some pretty awful bluegrass acts out there, and this is definitely not one of them. Giant harmonies, super tight banjo, and thumping bass, from the heart of Tennessee.

Professional Bio

Born and raised in eastern Tennessee, Paul Williams was a bluegrass music pioneer, whose career blossomed during the music’s formative years following World War II. After a 30-year hiatus from full-time touring, but not from music, Williams formed the Victory Trio to promote bluegrass gospel music on a national level. With his distinctive tenor voice, powerful mandolin playing and very accomplished ensemble, Williams is now making some of the finest music of his career.

Paul Williams’ involvement with music began at age nine, when his father bought him a Gibson “A” model mandolin to play in prayer meetings and church services. His talent was soon evident, and by the early 1950s he had become a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, an important early bluegrass band. Williams first came to national attention in 1953 when he joined up with his brother-in law, Jimmy Martin, whose work with Bill Monroe’s band had helped shape the bluegrass sound. With Williams in tow, Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys went on to become one of the greatest bluegrass ensembles of all time. Williams’ clear, crisp tenor and carefully crafted mandolin playing and the young J. D. Crow’s clockwork banjo combined with Martin’s lead vocals and strong guitar work to propel the band to national attention.

After ten years of musical success, Williams quit touring to work for the U.S. Postal Service, a job he held for 30 years. However, his love for bluegrass remained with him, and he never stopped playing. Upon his retirement from the Postal Service he jumped right back into the music, this time focusing on bluegrass gospel. Since 1995, he has toured and recorded extensively with his group, the Victory Trio. Nine albums and a Grammy nomination later, the ensemble is at the top of the bluegrass gospel field. Williams continues to write moving and thoughtful songs, many of which have made their way into the larger bluegrass gospel repertoire.

Paul Williams and the Victory Trio is actually a quintet. In addition to Williams, the group includes Dan Moneyhan on guitar and lead vocals, Adam Winstead on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jerry Keys on banjo and Susie Keys on bass.