Bert Wills spends much of his time off surfing, riding his 1964 Harley, and fronting his band. Regarded by many to be a local legend because of the years he spent traveling on the road staking claim for himself in the music business, Wills is now more than simply a well-known local boy who made good. As a regularly scheduled blues act playing throughout the United States and Europe, his CD, "Mr. Politician", earned a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album and Wills himself for the Best new Blues Artist by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Inc. for the Grammy Awards.
Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Wills and his family later moved to Kemah, Texas. Around 1966, his band, The Shadows, began opening for many headlining acts. He always wanted to play blues because it came so natural. When the Shadows split in 1968, Wills headed north to play folk blues music.
When Wills returned to the Gulf Coast things changed. Bert started playing blues and honky-tonk music in bars. This experience carried him to Nashville, in 1980, where he signed a recording contract with MCA Records. His growing disenchantment with Music City resulted in his return to Texas. He then formed a band called The Cryin' Shames, and began playing the club and college circuit. Wills signed a seven-year, seven-album deal with Gold Rhyme Records in the early '90s.
Bert's latest CD, "Pavones Sunset", is targeting the younger generations with lots of original instrumental "surf" tunes. "Pavones Sunset" is a cruisin' CD that will keep summer sizzling well into fall. This CD has been featured on surf videos by surfing great Herbie Fletcher.
More recently, Wills has enjoyed the pleasure of playing guitar with legendary pianist Johnnie Johnson. Johnson, whose career has included playing with such greats as Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Albert King, and Eric Clapton, included Bert Wills in his newly released book "Father of Rock n Roll". Wills produced Johnson's new CD, which will be released in 2000. Johnson, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., will travel with guitarist Bert Wills to play for this star-filled event.
Now as a resident of Galveston, Texas, Bert Wills' future is being super-charged by signing with Peavey Electronics, as an endorsee of their equipment. A formal announcement was made Aug. 9th, at Bert's Birthday Celebration "Bert and Surf" where Bert performed "LIVE SOUNDTRACKS" to the Herbie Fletcher films "Style Masters", "Crusin'" and "Summer Sessions" at the Strand Theatre on Galveston Island which was sponsored by Island Music.
|
