Rusty Williams

1. Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you from?

I grew up outside of McRae, Ga, on a cattle farm that belonged to my great-grandfather. McRae is a small town in every sense of the word; we don't even have a Walmart. Despite the lack of attractions in McRae, there have always been a lot of things to do to have fun: hunting, fishing, going to the Ocmulgee River, riding horses and four wheelers.


2. What does your family think of your music career?

My family is extremely supportive! They have made a lot of sacrifices to help me along the way, and there is no doubt in my mind that they are proud of me. They are my number one fans!


3. As an artist, who's career would you most like to emulate?

I would have to say Garth Brooks. He has had an incredible career and was one heck of an entertainer. That is what I enjoy most about my career in music- being an entertainer and putting on unforgettable shows for my fans. In a lot of ways Garth was a pioneer in the music industry and that’s what I want to be.


4. When did you first begin to sing/play guitar? What were some of your earliest performances?

I learned music listening to country, singing along with Ronnie Dunn and George Strait. I took a few lessons on guitar to learn the chords and finally broke off on my own. However, my first performance and many performances after that, was in front of the Church of God my grandparent's went to in McRae. It was a humble beginning but everyone was very encouraging.


5. At what point did you realize you would like to pursue music professionally?

It was very early on. After a few performances, I was hooked. It quickly became a huge part of my life and who I was.


6. What do you expect to accomplish with your music career in the next 5 years?

Things are constantly getting busier and bigger with my career, so I know touring is going to be a constant for me within a 5 year time frame. I also expect to have some music on the charts by then, and that’s something I am really looking forward to. I believe by then I will have a team behind me that will help me achieve some incredible goals we have set. I feel I now have one of the greatest teams I could ask for, but it is growing every day.


7. What can someone expect to see when they come to a Rusty Williams show?

Energy! We have a high octane show. We focus on our performance and what we do on stage just as much as the music we rehearse. I have never liked watching a show where artists just stand behind a mic stand. I get the fans to feel what I feel by the movement and energy on stage, and that includes quite a bit of dancing. At the end of the night I want the fans to have had an unforgettably fun experience, and when they leave sweaty with a smile on their face, I know I have done that.


8. What has been your most memorable experience since arriving in Nashville?

This is a tough one to narrow down. It would have to be between hanging backstage at the Grand Ole Opry or having the honor of going to the 43rd annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.. I sincerely believe the songwriters are the lifeblood of Nashville and the Country Music industry. I love songwriting and anything to do with it, so this was a fun experience.


9. You wrote all the songs on your album, Chapter 3. In what ways do you think you've grown as a songwriter? Do you have any goals as a songwriter?

I have grown a ton as a writer since I have started working in Nashville! I owe a lot of that to the cowriters I have had the honor of collaborating with. Nashville is full of some of the most amazing and awe-inspiring writers in the world. One of my goals is to get some of my material cut by other artists. Sometimes I write material that fits me as an artist; other times it’s just not ‘my sound,.’ Defining my sound is another accomplishment since arriving in Nashville.


10. One last thing, your tattoos are very interesting. Is there a story behind them?

My first tattoo is what they call a messianic crest. It is the Jesus fish symbol morphed with the star of David and a menorah. Tattoos are permanent and my relationship with God is too; I wanted something that would symbolize that. I have another tattoo on my right forearm of the queen of diamonds playing card which I got from the song "Desperado" by The Eagles. There is a line in the song that says, "Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy, she'll beat you if she's able.” To me, that symbolizes mistakes that I have made in life and was able to make it out of. I guess I have my life tattooed on both of my sleeves, haha.

For more information on Rusty Williams, please visit www.facebook.com/rustywilliamsofficial - Nashville Music Line (Oct 23, 2013)

Rusty Williams has country credentials.

“I grew up on a 200-acre cattle farm toward Jacksonville that belonged to my stepfather’s family,” he said. “Of course, I’ve been with them since I was four or five years old so the stepfather thing doesn’t really mean much.”

“I’ve always had a love for country music; I did some gospel and Christian music through the years and just recently came back to country music and started working on an album.”
That album, Chapter Three, is coming out this Saturday. The title has some significance to Williams.

“It feels like me, making this start at this time, it feels like the third chapter of my life,” he said. “The things I went through as a child, then those things I went through with Jesus, who’s still a big part of my life, but I feel like this is chapter three for me with this start in country music.”

Rusty, 23, went to school in Telfair County through sixth grade, transferred to Wheeler County, where he got his high school diploma.

He writes his own songs based on his life experience.
“I think that makes the best music, stuff that makes your audience feel,” he said. “Something you really experienced firsthand.”
Like most modern country musicians, his songs reflect a variety of musical styles: traditional country, southern rock, and even mainstream rock influences can be heard in his music, he said.
Rusty Williams performs

Rusty has been playing his music in the area recently: Statesboro, Perry, and Sandersville are among the towns he’s performed. He is set to play at the Hawkinsville Barbecue Festival on Oct. 27. In the smaller venues, it’s just him and maybe another guitar player; at festivals and other large events he plays with a full band. He’ll soon be featuring the CD on his merchandise table during performances. Locally, his mother Nita Vickers at Nita’s Cuts & Curls located behind Piggly Wiggly in McRae will also be selling them.
For more information, visit his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rusty.williams.370. - The Telfair Enterprise (Oct 17, 2012)

RE: Rusty Williams, Rusty Williams Band

To whom it concerns,

On Saturday, August 31, 2013 we (Friends of Little Ocmulgee State Park) hired the Rusty Williams Band to put on an evening concert in the outdoor amphitheater at Little Ocmulgee State Park for us. I must say this group of men are not only extremely talented they have a lead singer (Rusty Williams) that has an energetic charisma about him that the crowd loves.

Everything from planning to concert went extremely smooth. This group gave us everything they promised – a 4 hour energetic, well-rehearsed country/southern rock concert that just blew us all away. Our entire outdoor amphitheater area was packed with people enjoying the concert! (And that says A LOT in the August heat of Georgia!)

Both Rusty Williams and his band will always be welcome to play at Little Ocmulgee State Park, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality music.

Sincerely,
Liz Garrett
President, Friends of Little Ocmulgee State Park - Friends of Little Ocmulgee State Park

I, Sergio Valenzuela, am an Award-winning Producer/Director in film and video. Most of the work I do in the Nashville area involves EPK’s (Electronic Press Kit), and Promotional videos for up and coming artists, singers, songwriters, bands, etc.

Rusty Williams has performed at numerous big venues in and around Nashville TN. I have videoed & shot Rusty on several occasions at many of these venues. It’s always a great pleasure to video Rusty on stage; he always gives a great performance to his loyal fans.

Sincerely,

Sergio Valenzuela
Silver Phoenix Entertainment
615-300-7796
Silver_phoenix@comcast.net - Sergio Valenzuela

Wow, Rusty! The 2014 Pondtown Festival Association Board can’t thank you enough! We have had nothing but positive comments about your performance. If we have heard this statement once, we have heard it over one thousand times “We loved Rusty Williams! We could have listened to him all night long!”

Those are the types of comments that make all of
our hours of volunteer work worthwhile. Putting a festival together is hard work, and booking quality entertainment is a big part of that job. You not only met our expectations, but also exceeded them. You impressed the crowd, the sound crew and our stage manager as well. Your level of professionalism and high energy performance left everyone impressed and wanting more. Our PA company has worked with many large acts through the years, but was highly impressed with you and your level of talent. Your voice and stage presence wowed everyone. We hope you enjoyed your time at our festival as much as we enjoyed having you on our stage.

We were more than impressed that your performance stood out in a festival that featured the two reality TV stars Bobby & Big Juicy, as seen on Lizard Lick Towing, and the recording artists, The LACS and The Chuck Wagon Gang. You truly left the audience wanting more, and they have wasted no time in letting us, the 2013 Pondtown Festival Association Board, know that they want you back, and in a big way.

If we can say anything more, it is that you are not just an
opening act you are a headliner! You proved that to everyone who attended the 2013 Pondtown Festival and we sincerely hope you will join us again for our 2014 Festival. You are welcome back in our pond anytime and we hope that you will return even bigger and better. Thanks again for making the 2013 Pondtown Festival street dance a roaring success!

Sincerely,
The 2013 Pondtown Festival Association Board - Pondtown Festival

December 3, 2013

To Whom it May Concern,

Rusty Williams performed for our International Kaolin Festival in October of 2012, as well as October of 2013. He is a great performer and our festival-goers love hearing him perform.

We are proud to have Rusty be a part of our International Kaolin Festival and would recommend him as a performer for any venue.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Farrin
Vice President
Washington County Chamber of Commerce - International Kaolin Festival

If you are a country music fan and looking for some local entertainment, you don’t have to look any further than the Emerald City .

Rusty Williams will be taking the stage at Theatre Dublin on Saturday, November 23 with his friend and cowriter, Lindsey Harding for ‘A Nashville Night in Georgia’ in Dublin.

Williams loves the energy that comes across during his live shows.
“Upbeat music is what people love at shows because it’s high energy, and that’s what my live shows are: high octane,” Williams said.

Fellow Nashville artist Kacey Smith will also join Williams and Harding.

The doors will open at 6:30pm for general admission with the show getting underway at 7pm.

“I love country music that rocks,” Williams said. “And to give a song a unique twist, sometimes I like including unexpected sounds, such as adding bluegrass-style music to a southern rock-sounding song.”

Online sales are $10 for general admission and $30 for VIP tickets, which will include the option of front row seating, a backstage meet and greet with the artists, autographed souvenirs, and a chance to win an autographed cowboy hat worn by Williams. All VIP’s must be present at 5:45pm in order to meet the artists backstage.

General admission tickets will also be available at the door for $15 with seating being first come, first served.

Williams is very well familiar with the local area. Williams grew up on a 200-acre farm just outside the small town of McRae, and when he wasn’t hard at work on the family farm, he lived the life of any southern country boy- hunting, fishing, riding horses and enjoying the waters of the Ocmulgee River.

In his teens, he discovered the muddy fun of bogging trucks and four wheelers. Williams was raised in a family that he describes as very tight, supportive, and loving. “The old saying, ‘blood is thicker than water’ is very evident in my family circle,” Williams said. “Friends have come and gone but the family has never changed. We are simple working people. We’ve worked for everything we’ve ever had.”

Go to www.theatredublinga.com to purchase concert tickets. For more information, call 478-697-6867 or 478-272-5870. - The Courier-Herald

Local talent Rusty Williams, managed by Alan Lawrence of Bonaire, took center stage at the Telfair Center for the Arts in McRae Saturday Feb. 23 during what he dubbed his “hometown concert.” The event was sponsored in part by Cedar Lane Supper Club, one of McRae’s greatest supporters of worthy causes. This gifted singer, songwriter, musician appeared with an extraordinarily talented group of homegrown band members and friends; Josh Fordham, Justin Brewer, Nate Selph, Cody Smith and Brian Krieg, who while not a native of McRae, is still a Georgia boy.

These guys represent some of the finest talent in the area and entertained concert goers by performing, an assortment of country standards and party songs, top forties hits and Williams’ own work. Rusty opened with a song dedicated to his Grandma Maude McV ey and his late grandpa who shared a 60-plus year marriage until he died. He sang a song that conveyed strength of character and strong family values with the lyrics “they don’t
them like that anymore,” while words were being recited by Paul Harvey honoring farmers, expressing the sentiment that Whenever there was difficult work to be done “God made a farmer.” The effect was touching and profound.

This young man sang everything from feel good songs like “Friends in Low Places” and “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy,” to tender love songs like “Don’t Take the Girl” and everything in between. He did as good a job, if not better, than the original artists.

Rusty’s original selections were from his recent CD “Rusty Williams Chapter 3,” the cover of which includes his thanks. In true southern style this Christian young man credits his success first, to his Lord and Savior, Jesus, for His unconditional love, next, his family, for their support (who by the way are all justifiably proud of his faith and accomplishments) and finally, to his collaborators in this endeavor including Sarah Fordham singing background vocals, Cody Smith on guitar and Banjo, Chuck Hutcheson on piano and saxophone. Chuck is also responsible for recording the album that is a collection of songs which are the soundtrack to a young Georgia boy’s life and seem destined to be hits.

The video of the title track, “Backwoods Southern Dream” includes scenes of his grandma and grandpa’s farm in McRae where Rusty grew up and even includes a cameo of Wayne Vickers in on his tractor. Rusty’s down home roots are evident in stories his notes and lyrics convey. They bring to life, a man’s southern experience through song. Rusty admits that he is a real person with real problems. He says he writes them down and turns them into songs. As a performer, Rusty Williams has it all, good looks, winning personality, and ability. He is a consummate entertainer and it seems to come naturally to him. The energy and humor he communicates through his music also
finds its way into his music also finds its way into his music also finds its way into his conversation with the audience. He seems to truly love what he is doing and he does it very well.

Rusty seems to know McRae well enough to take in stride the less than full house that seems to be par for the course for most events held here, joking that the sidewalks get rolled up at eight o’clock, but it truly is a shame that more people could not turn out to enjoy such high caliber entertainment and support one of their own with real star power. This young man is a testament to the fact that talent can be born, nurtured and discovered in even the smallest of towns and Nashville seems to be interested in McRae’s own rising country star. Many of the people of McRae wish you God’s grace in the future and are behind you as you represent your hometown through your music.

Well done good and faithful son of McRae. Thank you for blessing those who came to hear you all perform. We appreciate the time and effort it took to put this production together and wish to thank Randy Brown and Carl Maneely for their part in that. For anyone who is interested, Rusty Williams’ next appearance will be in Byron at the Georgia Reunion, The Dukes of Hazzard Classic Car Show Music Festival Sunday, March 10 at Middle Georgia Raceway.
Thank you once for the Arts for providing the venue for such wonderful experiences right here at home. We appreciate what you do to promote the arts in our community. Where else could you enjoy such exceptional entertainment on a budget? - Telfair Enterprise (March 6, 2013)

With March fast approaching, many are getting ready for what event coordinator Chris Jenkins hopes to be one of the largest events to come to Byron, the Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion at Middle Georgia Raceway. One young man is warming his vocal chords to sing not one, not two, but all three days of the event. Rusty Williams is a local country music singer, who like most young people from the south, grew up watching re- runs of The Dukes of Hazzard and though he says in all his 24 years of life he has never run moonshine, he does owe his heavy foot to the famous “Duke boys.”

“I have lived on a dirt road my entire life. I don’t know how many times I have slid sideways around the curve heading home to the farm while letting out a big ‘Y eeeehhhhaaawwww!’ So, yes, the show definitely influenced me growing up,” Williams said when asked how the show affected his life.

Williams has been singing for as long as he can remember. His style is country but he calls himself “well rounded” having played once in a heavy rock band before returning to the country music genre. His style has been influenced through the years by many different styles of music. He fell in love with music while listening to songs as a child riding with his mother and father in the car.

“My dad always listened to country music while my mom was ‘70s fan, stuff like Skynard and The Eagles,” Williams said.

He first began singing and playing guitar in his church and says, “it pretty much grew from there.” Williams grew up a country boy, on a 200-acre cattle farm in McRae, Georgia, and attributes his childhood to his style of music.

“I say that I fit into the country genre, because that’s who I am,” he stated.

When asked what advice he would give for other singers trying to break into the country music business, he says, “I would have to say one of the biggest things is practice. I remember when I was just starting out, I thought I was really something, but looking back I realize I had a lot of learning to do. I know that there is a lot for me to learn and I can learn a lot from people who have been doing this a lot longer. So, don’t ever get so big headed that no one can teach you anything. We all have room for improvement and for bettering ourselves, not just as musicians, but as people.”

Williams was slated only to perform on March 10th of the reunion but has been asked to play all three days. He will play alongside other bands like, The LACS, Confederate Railroad and Ben Jones & Cooters Garage Band just to name a few. The event is shaping up to be a hootin’ and hollerin’ good time Williams is
proud to be part of it.

“I am excited to meet the cast. I didn’t get to see the original shows when they first aired, but I did see the re-runs. I used to watch them on CMT and I loved it! I thought, ‘man those guys are just like us, good ole boys,” he stated when asked if he was excited to meet the Dukes’ cast.

Williams' debut album "Chapter 3” was released in October 2012 and can be found on CD Baby and iTunes. If you are interested in
hearing this country boy’s music, you can go to his Facebook page at, Facebook.com/rustywilliamsmusic orgoto reverbnation.com/rustywilliams. He has also just released his first music video on his Y outube channel, “Backwoods Southern Dream.” To find the video, just visit his channel at Y outube.com/rustywiliamsvideos.

And, of course, to hear him sing live, get your tickets today for the Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion by visiting their website www.dukesofhazzardgareunion.com or find them on Facebook by searching “Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion.” The event will be coming to the Middle Georgia Raceway March 8-10 and tickets are going fast! - The Byron Buzz (Jan 31, 2013)