Willie Ames

Willie Ames is your 2010 Solo Artist of the Year with a nomination for Instrumental Artist of the Year in the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards! Willie was a select performer in the award's voting party at the Whisky A Go-Go (Oct.7) and at the main event at the world famous Paramount Theatre in Hollywood,CA (Nov.18). Willie is already nominated for Singer/Songwriter of the Year in the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music awards 2011! - Al Bowman

November 23, 2006

POWAY – Willie Ames grew up with a football in one hand and a guitar in the other. Now 25, the former quarterback at Poway High School has given up sports in his pursuit of a music career.

Ames sings, writes music, and plays the guitar and banjo. He was one of the local musicians featured at the Poway Chamber of Commerce's second annual Character Rocks! Street Fair on Nov. 12.
“Playing here in my hometown was great,” Ames said. “Having people come up and say 'Oh, this is what you are doing now,' was a good feeling.”

The Poway street fair was a brief stop on Ames' tour of the western United States.

Since 2004, Ames has driven so many miles he has lost count. The scenery of Colorado, Oregon and all the states in between has become familiar territory for the aspiring musician as he travels to and from performances.

“Being by myself in the car on the open road is one of the most enjoyable parts of my life,” he said. “I come up with a lot of good music as I watch the environment fly by.”

Ames writes the music in his head while he drives and sings it to himself to memorize it. He said he has been composing music that way since he was 5 and his parents gave him a child's guitar for Christmas.

Ames studied mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona before realizing that music was his passion.

“I had concentrated so much on sports growing up, I never really realized how important music was in my life,” he said. “Then I turned 18 and it just hit me. I figured the dream was worth a shot.”

Ames will play for money or for the experience. The most important thing to him is that he can play at all.

“I am just breaking even monetarily now,” he said. “But I am having the time of my life. My goal is to try to play somewhere every night.”

Ames gives each audience member a copy of his CD and accepts donations rather than charging a fee. He estimates that he has handed out more than 20,000 CDs since recording his debut. He believes that first come the fans, then comes the fame.

Sometimes, Ames said, he needs a shot of vodka to calm his nerves before he goes onstage. “It gets easier the more shows I do, though,” he said. “The excitement and the adrenaline rush get me pretty fired up.”

Ames can't read music, but he said his ears are his guide. He cites Mark Knopfler with Dire Straits and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac as his greatest musical influences.

Ames emulates his musical heroes in the way he plays the guitar. He strums the strings rather than using a pick, creating a sound he describes as more versatile and requiring more technique. “My music is mellow classic rock with words that are deep,” he said.

Ames has 16 original songs on his album, including “Ice Breaker,” “Desert Run” and “She'll Come Around.”

He will play shows in Las Vegas and Phoenix before returning to San Diego County to perform Dec. 23 at Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mountain Road.

For more information on Ames, go to www.willieames.com.

- Meredith Wade

November 23, 2006

POWAY – Willie Ames grew up with a football in one hand and a guitar in the other. Now 25, the former quarterback at Poway High School has given up sports in his pursuit of a music career.

Ames sings, writes music, and plays the guitar and banjo. He was one of the local musicians featured at the Poway Chamber of Commerce's second annual Character Rocks! Street Fair on Nov. 12.
“Playing here in my hometown was great,” Ames said. “Having people come up and say 'Oh, this is what you are doing now,' was a good feeling.”

The Poway street fair was a brief stop on Ames' tour of the western United States.

Since 2004, Ames has driven so many miles he has lost count. The scenery of Colorado, Oregon and all the states in between has become familiar territory for the aspiring musician as he travels to and from performances.

“Being by myself in the car on the open road is one of the most enjoyable parts of my life,” he said. “I come up with a lot of good music as I watch the environment fly by.”

Ames writes the music in his head while he drives and sings it to himself to memorize it. He said he has been composing music that way since he was 5 and his parents gave him a child's guitar for Christmas.

Ames studied mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona before realizing that music was his passion.

“I had concentrated so much on sports growing up, I never really realized how important music was in my life,” he said. “Then I turned 18 and it just hit me. I figured the dream was worth a shot.”

Ames will play for money or for the experience. The most important thing to him is that he can play at all.

“I am just breaking even monetarily now,” he said. “But I am having the time of my life. My goal is to try to play somewhere every night.”

Ames gives each audience member a copy of his CD and accepts donations rather than charging a fee. He estimates that he has handed out more than 20,000 CDs since recording his debut. He believes that first come the fans, then comes the fame.

Sometimes, Ames said, he needs a shot of vodka to calm his nerves before he goes onstage. “It gets easier the more shows I do, though,” he said. “The excitement and the adrenaline rush get me pretty fired up.”

Ames can't read music, but he said his ears are his guide. He cites Mark Knopfler with Dire Straits and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac as his greatest musical influences.

Ames emulates his musical heroes in the way he plays the guitar. He strums the strings rather than using a pick, creating a sound he describes as more versatile and requiring more technique. “My music is mellow classic rock with words that are deep,” he said.

Ames has 16 original songs on his album, including “Ice Breaker,” “Desert Run” and “She'll Come Around.”

He will play shows in Las Vegas and Phoenix before returning to San Diego County to perform Dec. 23 at Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mountain Road.

For more information on Ames, go to www.willieames.com.

- Meredith Wade

August 2009

Willie Ames unexpectedly got a shout out from actor Eli Roth (while starring in Quentin Tarantino's #1 movie Inglourious Basterds with Brad Pitt) for being in Roth's iPod in an interview he gave in the August 2009 issue of SPIN Magazine. Click or copy and paste the link below to see the interview, 4th question:

http://m.spin.com/articles/actor-eli-roth-reveals-his-favorite-music - Phoebe Reilly

August/September & November 2009

Willie Ames was featured in the August/September 2009 issue of relix magazine, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, with a poster ad which can be viewed in Willie's sonicbids EPK photo gallery. Along with having his well appreciated track titled "Desert Run" featured on the compilation CD, the issue also included a brief write up introducing his musicianship, himself, and highlighting his tour of all 50 United States!

Willie was also featured in the November 2009 issue of relix magazine, highlighting the 50 greatest concerts in the past 50 years, with a half page ad which can also be viewed in Willie's sonicbids EPK photo gallery. The issue also introduced his musicianship, instruments, himself, and also highlighting his tour of all 50 United States! - Evan Mann

December 2009

Willie Ames was featured with a half page ad in the December 2009 issue of Under the Radar Magazine, introducing his musicianship, instruments, himself, and highlighting his tour of all 50 United States! The ad can be viewed in Willie's sonicbids EPK photo gallery... - Robert Gleim

August/September & November 2009

Willie Ames was featured in the August/September 2009 issue of relix magazine, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, with a poster ad which can be viewed in Willie's sonicbids EPK photo gallery. Along with having his well appreciated track titled "Desert Run" featured on the compilation CD, the issue also included a brief write up introducing his musicianship, himself, and highlighting his tour of all 50 United States!

Willie was also featured in the November 2009 issue of relix magazine, highlighting the 50 greatest concerts in the past 50 years, with a half page ad which can also be viewed in Willie's sonicbids EPK photo gallery. The issue also introduced his musicianship, instruments, himself, and also highlighting his tour of all 50 United States! - Evan Mann