Williams & Clark Expedition
Williams & Clark Expedition
Nashville, TN
Folk / Bluegrass / Acoustic
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Williams & Clark Expedition could be described by some as a new band on the bluegrass scene. But when you consider the members of the group are Blake Williams, Bobby Clark, Wayne Southards and Kimberly Williams, you know this is not a group of newcomers. All have very impressive musical credentials, having worked for the music's forefathers, Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt, to some of the earlier bluegrass bands, The Bluegrass Cardinals and Tennessee Gentlemen, to even the artists who have just become popular in the last couple of decades like Mike Snider, Kathy Chiavola and Larry Cordle. No one can deny the bluegrass pedigree of Williams & Clark Expedition's members.
What is surprising to most, is the band voice that was created when these talented people formed this band just over 5 years ago. In a very short time, they have gone from a band no one knew, to one of bluegrass music's most requested groups in the genre. Soon after word got out about the band's good business sense and truly unique entertaining style, some folks in Franklin, KY approached them about helping to establish and host the Franklin Music Festival. The event is now in it's 4th year and is not only hosted by the band, but is also co-produced by the Expedition and has featured some of the greatest talent in bluegrass music and a few outside the realm such as Vince Gill and Marty Stuart. In 2004, Williams & Clark Expedition was the only bluegrass act to perform for the Country Gold Music Festival in Kumamoto, Japan alongside country artist Darryl Worley and Blue County, which resulted in a feature story on GAC's “Country Music Across America”, hosted by Storme Warren. But the band received its top accolade thus far when the International Bluegrass Music Association chose them as one of 5 nominees for “Emerging Artist Of The Year” in 2005. And band member Blake Williams was nominated in 2007 for SPBGMA's (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) Entertainer Of The Year.
To date, the band has released 4 CDs and they will be on the road approximately 100 days in 2007 alone. It is no mystery why this band is becoming so popular so quickly. They offer superb musicianship, hauntingly tight harmonies, traditional and contemporary lead vocal styles, original material, humor, and history in every performance. And each member is as personable as they are talented, believing the audience comes first. They do everything they can to show that, from their stage performances, to the lively conversation with any and all who want to visit afterwards. It really is quite simple...
Williams & Clark Expedition loves what they do and it shows!!!
Band Member Bios:
One of the most refreshing things you will hear from this Bluegrass band is the great guitar work and vocals ofWAYNE SOUTHARDS. A native of Salem, Missouri, WAYNE moved to Nashville in 1990 with his wife and two sons. He would soon become a highly sought after guitarist and work for Country Artists such as John Conlee, The McCarters and Sweethearts Of The Rodeo. WAYNE is a seasoned professional having performed with the Tennessee Gentlemen as their lead vocalist and guitarist and he is also an accomplished bass player having worked for Weary Hearts, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, and Kathy Chiavola. One listen to this great talent and it is easy to understand why the Missouri SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) named him their 1987 Male Vocalist of the Year.
A native of Texas,KIMBERLY WILLIAMSmoved to Nashville for a career in the music business in 1992 after beginning her love for music with her family's band. KIMBERLY has performed demos for some of the top songwriters and publishers in Nashville including Gerald Smith, Vern Gosdin, Hank Cochran, Tom Collins Publishing, Co-Heart Music, and Muy Bueno Music as well as a guest appearance on a Mike Snider gospel album. KIMBERLY soon became interested in the event and concert production side of things and secured a job as Producer for Gaylord Entertainment's Opryland Productions and Grand Ole Opry Group. There, she produced shows for Opryland Theme park and the Opryland Hotel and soon realized a dream come true, producing concerts of some of the biggest acts in music including Lee Ann Rimes, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Reba McEntire, Huey Lewis and the News and Stevie Wonder. After 7 years with Opryland Productions and two guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, KIMBERLY is one of two lead vocalists and the bassist the band and owner of East Public Relations.
An accomplished musician on several instruments,BLAKE WILLIAMShas worked with two of the forefathers of Bluegrass music. Having played banjo with Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass until Lester's death in 1979, BLAKE went on to play banjo with the Father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe, for 10 years. In 1991, BLAKE laid down the banjo and picked up the acoustic bass, playing 10 years with Comedian, Hee Haw star and Grand Ole Opry member, Mike Snider. During his musical career, BLAKE has toured 48 states and 7 countries, played Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center. He recorded 6 albums with Bill Monroe for which one of them, “Southern Flavor”, won a Grammy for “Bluegrass Album of The Year” and, you can hear BLAKE's bass work on 5 albums with Mike Snider and 2 live videos as well. BLAKE has also recorded three solo projects and performed on the Grand Ole Opry for over 23 years. This Tennessee native is resuming his role as banjo picker extraordinare with WILLIAMS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
There is no mistaking that signature mandolin sound for anyone other than Oklahoma native,BOBBY CLARK. Having won the National Mandolin championship in Winfield, Kansas, the Buck White International Mandolin Championship in Kerrville, Texas, and the World Mandolin Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, BOBBY can only be called a true mandolin virtuoso. BOBBY began his musical career alongside another Oklahoma native, Vince Gill as a member of the Bluegrass Review. After moving to Nashville in 1983, he became a well sought after instrumentalist and worked with Vassar Clements, Larry McNeely, Peter Rowan, the Bluegrass Cardinals and most recently, spent the last 16 years with Mike Snider. BOBBY has recorded two solo albums and worked on other album projects with the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. BOBBY's original music can be heard on TNN and CMT as the theme music for “Celebrity Outdoors” and “Southern Outdoors” and he performed on the soundtrack for the PBS special “Rachel & Andrew”. BOBBY has been seen and heard on the Grand Ole Opry for the last 11 years and is the owner of Top Dog Recording and Sound in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
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