Just heard this sad news about Warner Williams. The first time I saw him was when the DC Blues Society and The House of Musical Traditions presented a show featuring Paul Geremia. Warner Wiliams, who I was not familiar with, opened the show and blew us all away. Pretty soon with harmonica player Jay Summerour, they were regulars at jams and shows as Little Bit of Blues.
Prince George Community College regularly presented a show in February called Juke Joint Saturday Night that opened with Warner and Jay and then The Hardway Connection. I remember Nick Spitzer booking Warner and Jay to open for Joe Louis Walker at the Barns of Wolf Trap. Introducing Warner and Jay, Nick mentioned calling Warner to get some info for his introduction and the grandson answered and said that Warner did not want to talk, he did not want to be famous. Well in the DC area among blues lovers Warner was famous. He was brilliant and yet so full of joy as he turned a country honky-tonk tune into a Piedmont blues romp, "Hey Bartender, there's a big bug in my bear."
Warner had a repertoire that spanned old Tin Pan Alley songs, children's songs, honky-tonk country, and Blind Boy Fuller. In the DMV in the 90s, we had Archie Edwards, John Cephas, John Jackson, and Warner Williams. We were so fortunate and with Warner's passing, an era has ended but there are young voices to keep the tradition alive and growing.
RIP Mr. Warner Williams.
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