I`d like to introduce myself (The manbehind the NIKON), I am William Asa Williams, better known as W.A. (My friends call me Bill, old friends call me Billy, my wife, Melanie, calls me “whenever and whatever she may please.”)
D.O.B. :
September 25th, 1950, in Hamilton!
(Little Chicago), Ohio. I grew up in Fairfield, Ohio which is
located 20 miles north of Cincinnati.Education:
Fairfield Public Schools, Elementary,
Jr. High & High School. I returned to school full-time in
1983 (while assuming the role of Mr.Mom at home) at Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio, I earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
in Mass Communications in 1987 and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in
Educational Media/Instructional Design in 1989.Occupation:
Professional Photographer since 1989.Marital Status:
I married in 1975 to Melanie Karol
Stewart, we have two children Kori and Kasey.Work History:
Internationally recognized for his work
with the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bill developed a personal, as
well as, spiritual relationship with Stevie. Bill said, "I
owe him a debt I can never repay. All I can do is keep
documenting the music and performers he loved so well and to
continue to encourage others, as well as taking care of myself
and those I love so dearly. That was and still is Stevie’s
message to the world, love and take care of yourself and each
other, we’re all we have in this world that really has any
meaning. That is my quest, my goal, my mission... to document
these performances for contemporary and archival purposes and to
share the Love of God". Other photographic subjects include:
Dick Dale, Josh Smith, Jonny Lang, Jeff Beck, ARC Angels,
Storyville, Johnny Johnson, Otis Rush, Doyle Bramhall, Buddy Guy,
Lonnie Mack, The Gregg Allman Band, .38 Special, B.B.King, Johnny
Winter, Lefty Dizz, Junior Wells, Little Milton, Kenny Wayne
Shepherd, The Neville Brothers, Eric Johnson, The Kentucky
Headhunters, Eric Clapton, Hubert Sumlin, Jars of Clay, LIVE and
Joe Cocker (Joe once told W.A., "Your pictures have Soul,
Bill... you have Soul.") Clients/Publications include Sony
Music, Epic Records, MCA Records, Living Blues Magazine, Block
Magazine, Lee Oscar Harmonicas, Seymour Duncan, Mercury/Polygram
Records, Balzout, Buddy Guy's Legends, Brockum CPI, The Hard Rock
Cafe, Guitar for the Practicing Musician, Guitar World, Guitar
Player, Fender Musical Instruments, Billboard, Rolling Stone and
VH-1.... this is only a small representation of a very long list
of artists and clients/publications. Bill is also proud of the
fact that he can count many of his photographic subjects as his
personal friends. His most prized publications to date
have to be his inclusion both as contributor and subject in the
Joe Nick Patoski/Bill Crawford "BEST
SELLER!","STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN: CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE", published by Little Brown and Company and the
Keri Leigh/Taylor Publishing "BEST SELLING" book,
"SRV: SOUL to SOUL".VH-1 has also produced a
commemorative Stevie Ray Vaughan segment of its popular
"LEGENDS" series which features at least twelve of
"W.A.'s" photographic images, including never before
seen shots of Stevie, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Otis Rush.Bill also fronts a Blues/Soul band
named "The Reverend Billy Rose!
and The Legendary SoulShakers!!!". The band performs locally and has
shared the stage with such internationally known acts as, Lonnie
Mack, Steve Ferguson and The Kentucky Headhunters.Bill is a
Blues/Soul Shouter from "the old school" of singers.
Larry Nager, Blues aficionado and Music Writer for The Cincinnati
Enquirer, has said that, "The Reverend Billy Rose! and The
SoulShakers!!! is undoubtedly THE BEST whiteman's Blues I've
heard since returning to Cincinnati from Memphis." When
asked his opinion of TRBR! ATLS!!!, Master of the Flying V,
Guitar Great Lonnie Mack replied most emphatically, "Sounds
like the BLUES to ME!" The band's personnel includes: Jamie
Combs/Drums, Percussion, Vocals, BG Vocals... John
Redell/Guitars, Vocals, BG Vocals... Dan Al-Mateen/Keyboards,
Percussion, Vocals, BG Vocals, K.C. Williams/Musical Director/
4-5-6-8 & 12 Stringed Basses, Fretless Bass, BG Vocals,
(Lottsa other cool stuff!!!), The Reverend Billy Rose! (aka...
W.A. Williams)/Front Man, Lead Vocals, Blues Harp, BG Vocals,
Percussion, Other Assorted Duties!!!Check out the Reverands music at
Also, on an as available basis... M.C.
Stephens/Guitars (Billy's Primary Songwriting Partner) and Danny
Sauers/Saxaphones and Blues Harp. Once a SoulShaker!!!... ALWAYS
a SoulShaker!!! SoulShaker!!! Alumni: Ms. Sharon Lane, Mr. Dale
Hughes, Mr. Greg Rupp, Mr. Tim Barton (now with Little Milton),
Mr. Jon Trumball and many honorary SoulShakers!!!.The band's
music deals with "real life issues" without glorifying
the seedier elements to life. You will laugh, you will cry, you
will shout... you will look at both yourself and your neighbor
quite differently after experiencing The Reverend BillyRose! and
The Legendary SoulShakers!!! The band is getting ready to record
it's first full blown CD with Mr. Lonnie Mack co-producing, it's
tentatively entitled: SOULED OUT!!! Watch for it soon.To see the Rev's discography and sample his music Click here.
Interests:
Reading, Movies, TV,
Music (listening to and performing), Photographing everyday
people (I love people), doing ANYTHING with my son Kasey (Kori is
now a high school graduate and off "doing her own
thing" these days.), The Internet, Traveling, Sleeping,
going to the Zoo, dining on excellent cuisine, Black Cherry
ANYTHING, Greater's Ice Cream, Skim Milk, CHESTER'S PIZZA
(pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion, extra cheese and
pineapple), and the list goes on. "My favorite of favorite
activities though, is hanging with Melanie, my wife since 1975,
whom, without her support and encouragement, well, I don't know
where I might be."