Please allow me to introduce you to the man behind the NIKON and HASSELBLAD cameras, he is William Asa Williams,
better known as W.A. (Friends and business associates call him W.A. or Bill, childhood friends still call him Billy (especially the
Ladies!!!), Melanie, his precious wife, calls him “whenever and whatever she may so desire.”) These days he prefers W.A. or Billy.
He also likes William for a change once in a while but, as W.A. says, "William Williams , well, you understand, it has its drawbacks.
By the way... Asa is from the Bible and means Protector. It's pronounced with a long A and ONE "s"!!! OK??? LOL!!!"
D.O.B.:
September 25th, 1950, in Hamilton! (Little Chicago), Ohio. W.A. 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 (I started
in 1969 right out of high school.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Media/Instructional Design in 1989.
Occupation:
Professional Photographer since 1989. In conjunction with his work as an internationally recognized music photographer, W.A. returned
to the performance stage in 1992 as The Reverend Billy Rose! and The Legendary SoulShakers!!! fronting the band and as primary
songwriter.
Marital Status:
W.A. met and married in Melanie Karol Stewart in 1975 (they knew each other an entire three weeks before tying the knot!!!) and they
have two children Kori (09/23/78) and Kasey (05/29/82) and a beautiful Granddaughter... Miss Karla Lynn born November 2nd, 1999.
(An aside... his future wife grew up within approximately 300 yards of her future husband. She is 5 years his junior but he knew
her brother who was W.A.'s age and grade level in school. W.A. saw her once, from behind after she had walked past him while he
was sitting in her brother's car in their driveway some five years prior to their subsequent meeting... seven years after they
had left Fairfield.. Their family had moved ten miles away from Fairfield to the West side of Hamilton... the next town north,
around 1962 or '63. God certainly does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.)
Work History:
Internationally recognized for his work with the late Stevie Ray Vaughan,W.A. developed a personal, as well as, spiritual relationship
with Stevie. W.A. 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". W.A.'s "Last Call" image of Stevie (named by Joe Nick Patoski in "Caught in the Crossfire") is said to be the most
famous picture of Stevie in the world today.
Other photographic subjects include:
Dick Dale, Josh Smith, Jonny Lang, Jeff Beck, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mavis Staples, Parliament Funkadelic,
Chris Duarte, Double Trouble, ARC Angels, Doyle Bramhall II, Storyville, Johnny Johnson, Robert Cray, Otis Rush, Doyle Bramhall,
Buddy Guy, Lonnie Mack, Chris Layton, 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, Jimmie Vaughan,
Tommy Shannon, Jars of Clay, LIVE, Joe Cocker (Joe once told W.A., "Your pictures have Soul, Bill... you have Soul.") and a host of
others.
Clients/Publications include:
Sony Music, Epic Records, MCA Records, Living Blues Magazine, Block Magazine (Holland), 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, Guitar Magazine (England and Spain), Fender Musical Instruments, Modern Drummer, Guitar Center,
Mars Music, Fender Frontline Magazine, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Drums and Drumming, The Wilson Quarterly (Smithsonian publication),
VROOM: The Official Catalog of Rock and Roll Memorabilia, Dallas Transit System, Everybody's News, City Beat Magazine, Drums and
Percussion (Germany), The Cincinnati Enquire, The Cincinnati Post and VH-1.... this is only a small representation of a very long
list of artists and clients/publications.
W.A. is also proud of the fact that he can count many of his photographic subjects as his personal friends.
Note of interest:
W.A. was directly responsible for placing Cincinnati music scene stand-out, Noah Hunt, as front man with The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
when Kenny's dad, Ken senior, phoned and asked W.A. whom he might recommend to replace their original singer. Noah has since recorded
several albums with Kenny and seen the world. He has his own band. The 420 All-Stars whom he works with when not touring with The
KWS Band.
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" biography, "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. E! Entertainment produced an autobiographical program on actor Gary Busey and included some of W.A.'s images.
W.A.also fronts a Blues/Soul band named The Reverend Billy Rose! and The Legendary SoulShakers!!!. The band performs regionally and has shared the stage with such internationally known acts as, Lonnie Mack, Steve Ferguson, Johnny Neel, Big Joe Duskin, The Kentucky Headhunters and more. W.A. is a Blues/Soul Shouter from "the old school" of singers. Larry Nager, Blues aficionado and former Music Writer for both the Memphis based Commercial Appeal and The Cincinnati Enquirer, said that, "The Reverend Billy Rose! and The SoulShakers!!! is undoubtedly THE BEST White Man's Blues I've heard since returning to Cincinnati." 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: Shorty Starr/Drums, Percussion, Vocals, BG Vocals... M.C. Stephens/Guitars, James Ibold/Guitars,Vocals, BG Vocals... Michael J. McGuire/Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, BG Vocals, K.C. Williams/Musical Director/Producer/ 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, Mississippi Saxophone, BG Vocals, Percussion, Other Assorted Duties!!! Also, on an as available basis... Danny Sauers/Saxophones and Blues Harp. Once a SoulShaker!!!... ALWAYS a SoulShaker!!! SoulShaker!!! Alumni: Ms. Sharon Lane, Mr. Dale Hughes, Mr. Greg Rupp, Mr. Tim Barton, Mr. Jon Trumball, John Redell, Jaime Combs, Ed Blackmon and many other 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 Billy Rose! and The Legendary SoulShakers!!!. The band is recording it's first full blown studio CD with Mr. Lonnie Mack, Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers, Lonnie Mack, The Johnny Neel Band), Wayne Jackson (The Memphis Horns) Greg Martin (The Kentucky Headhunters, The Mighty Jeremiahs) with other notable friends dropping by to play. It's tentatively entitled: The Irreverent Billy Rose!!! Watch for it soon.
Check out W.A.'s images and The Rev!'s music along with additional autobiographical information: www.wawilliams.com and www.thereverendbillyrose.com
Personal Interests: by W.A.
Reading, Movies, Music (listening to and performing), photographing people (I love people), doing ANYTHING with my son Kasey (Kori
is now a mommy and off "doing her own thing" these days.), The Internet, Traveling, Sleeping, going to the Zoo with Karla Lynn, dining
on excellent cuisine, Black Cherry ANYTHING, Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream (Sinless Sweet Cream with Black Cherries...), Skim Milk,
CHESTER'S PIZZA (pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion and extra cheese), Richard's Steak Sandwiches 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 what may have become of me ."
My Heavenly Father, my immediate family and the VCC (my church family: http://www.cincyvineyard.com) have brought me through the toughest times of my life. That includes a very serious attempt at ending my own life in May of 2002. I was dead and He brought me back to life. I should have never been found. Depression had very nearly destroyed me. I had been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder prior to that without receiving proper treatment even though I sought it. I don't really question the diagnosis... I fit the bipolar II profile to a "T". There are even things I've done that aren't even on the list!!! I am on medication and take one day at a time. In November of 2004, I was literally attacked, rammed by another driver while crossing the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway in Cincinnati (Hamilton County ). The person who rammed me was in a fit of road rage and I didn't even see it coming. I was in the "slow" lane and he passed me on my right, on the shoulder of the highway. Witnesses say he hit me 3 to 4 times and that he looked as if "he was not going to let up." Upon his administering his coup de grace,I crossed over two lanes of highway continuing at the 55 miles per hour speed limit (I may have gained speed after he threw me out of control), careened off a metal guardrail and back across the same two lanes hitting a concrete barrier wall head on, at least as fast as I had been driving. I remember asking God, "Please just don't let me go over that wall." I was knocked unconscious (first time in my life.) When I awoke, I was in the middle of the slow lane sitting perpendicular to the highway. The truck I was driving was destroyed, the passenger door had been jarred open and there was no front end. The story goes on with me sustaining a fractured C-7 vertebrae, going to the hospital for several days bruised and battered. Hey!!! I AM ALIVE!!!. The guy was caught, cited, he has insurance and I have witnesses. My attorneys tell me that's all we need. It must have been some show for a Friday evening 5:00 o'clock drive time traffic crowd. Want to know the rest or more detailed information... drop me an email.
The Bible says that the devil is roaming to and fro across this earth seeking whom he may devour. God has plans for ol' Billy!!! God has NEVER failed me although I have failed Him often. You know what... He still loves me and my sins are forgiven and covered by the Blood of my Savior Jesus Christ through the sacrifice of His Life for me and for all of mankind. There is nothing you can do that's so bad that God will love you any less than He already does and there is nothing so good you can do to cause Him to love you any more than He already does. His Love is Perfect... it is Wholly and Holy Complete. Simply Believe and Receive.
You want to know more... please feel free to e-mail me at wawilliams@wawilliams.com or call me: (513) 863-3554
Contact a Vineyard near you or go to www.cincyvineyard.com and you will find help with your questions.
Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character... hope.
That's the walk and life in Christ
The Hope of the prize of the higher calling that those who know Him have!!!
We're just sojourners here, just passing through.
The best is yet to come.
Peace and Much Love...
W.A./Billy/The Rev!
Shake it, don't break it, wrap it up an' I'll take it... The Rev!
some friends....
www.bandnet.com; www.broadjam.com; www.thereverendbillyrose.com; www.lonniemack.com; www.goshornbrothersmusic.com; www.gregmartin.com;
www.stacymitchhart.com; www.kentuckyheadhunters.com; www.mightyjeremiahs.com; www.taildraggerrocks.com; www.areyouexperienced.net;
www.jbonamassa.com; www.jonnylang.com; www.pappalardi.com; www.cincyvineyard.com; www.xxxchurch.com; www.darrellmansfield.net;
www.godrocksvideo.com; www.srvrideandconcert.org; www.backtothebible.org; www.grandfunkrailroad.com; www.michaelwilsonphotographer.com;
www.texashatters.com; www.michaellocke.net; www.38special.com; www.strykerproductions.com; www.copyright.gov; www.soulwalking.co.uk;
www.wawilliams.com;
