Wil Hamilton Jr. Allstars

Wil Hamilton Jr. Bassist, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion, Composer, Songwriter, Producer, Publisher, and Performer. A Los Angeles native started his musical career in 1970. At age 14 Wil joined his first musical group called "Just Funk". The founding members were: Derek Bordeaux (Vocals/Keys), Byron Bordeaux (Guitar/Vocals), Karl Denson (Sax/Flute/Vocals), Tony Graves (Trumpet), Wil Hamilton Jr. (Bass/Vocals), Terry Jones (Guitar/Vocals), Kenney Jones (Vocals/Percussion's), and Vincent Quarles (Drums/Vocals). Based out of the city of Santa Ana, California were they worked all types of gigs for the first few years together. Wil Hamilton Jr., Vincent Quarles, and Terry Jones of "Just Funk" were also in a gospel group called the "Eruptions" as well. While Wil Hamilton Jr. was being mentored by his band member Karl Denson of "Just Funk" Wil was also persuaded to start mentoring other bass players on the side. His very first two students of persuasion were Melvin Lee Davis bassist of O'Brien, Chaka Khan, Lee Ritenour, and many more...and Howard Westbrook who has played with the late great Marvin Gaye (RIP) and many others. A professional musician at the early age of 17 Wil got an opportunity along with his band member Byron Bordeaux (Guitar/Vocals) of "Just Funk" to have a private audition session with the late great legendary (Drummer/Vocalist) Buddy Miles (RIP) who was looking for people to play in his band he was putting together at the time. The private session went great, they had a lot of fun and were hired on the spot to play in Buddy's Band. Unfortunately things did not work out with Buddy at that time so Wil and Byron moved on with their 8 piece high school band. In 1974 "Just Funk" was blessed with the opportunity to meet and perform as a opening act with Chaka Khan and Rufus headlining in concert at Do Do's in Los Angeles,California. In 1975 "Just Funk's" rhythm section, Wil Hamilton Jr.(Bass/Vocals), Terry Jones(Guitar/Vocals) and Vincent Quarles (Drums/Vocals) received an opportunity and were old enough to be hired by Charles Brown then manager of the group "Taste of Honey", "The Sophisticates", and others. "Just Funk" performed as a opening act and played behind "The Sophisticates" as the headlining act. They performed for the solders in Armed Forces in 1975 touring for USO Shows around the world! In 1982 Wil was a co-founder along with Derek and Byron Bordeaux of a private independent record label called "Rainbow Records". Our first release on "Rainbow Records" was under the group name "Bordeaux". The A side was entitled "Paradise's Love" and the B side was entitled " Life Is Just A Fantasy". Wil Hamilton Jr., Derek and Byron Bordeaux put together a group and called it "Axis" an original group that also performed a "Tribite To Jimi Hendrix" for several years lead by Byron Bordeaux on (Guitar/Vocals), Wil Hamilton Jr. (Bass/Vocals), and Vincent Quarles (Drums/Vocals).The first single on "Rainbow Records" was released in 1984 "Foxy Lady" written by "Jimi Hendrix"! "Silver Satin" was on the B side, an original release! In 1989 Wil became affiliated as a professional songwriter with (NAS) the "National Academy of Songwriters" in Hollywood, Ca.. While as a member several songs that Wil had co-written on called "Chase The Boogie", "You Pick Me Up", and "Sugar" won in a songwriting contest held among his peers at (NAS) resulting in a special guest interview on the "William Keno Show" KCME FM radio in Los Angeles in 1990. 1993 Wil Hamilton Jr. (Bass/Vocals), LeRoi Hammond (Keyboards/Vocals) and The Famous House Mouse (Drums) joined forces with the legendary soul singer and blues man Bobby Warren. Wil performed also as the (MD) Musical Director for Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band. In 1995 a CD album was released on "Rainbow Records" called "Make Me Yours". Mark Yeary (Keys/Vocals) who played for Merle Haggard for many years joined Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band in 1996 on the "Make Me Yours Tour" sponsored by "Rainbow Records" & (NACA). Wil and Bobby were associated with (NACA) the National Association of Campus Activities from 1994 to 1999. Wil Hamilton Jr. has played and supported a countless amount of performers and musicians across many genres of music throughout the years. Just to name a few: Buddy Miles(RIP), Rufus ft. Chaka Khan, Melvin Lee Davis, Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ronnie Laws (Saxophone), Doug MacLeod (Vocals/Harp/Guitar), Karl Denson (Saxophone/Vocals) with Lenny Kravitz, The Rolling Stones, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and many other artist. Connie Quarles(Vocalist), Arthur Thompson (Drums) for Wyman Tisdale (RIP)(Bassist), The Legendary Clarence"Gatemouth"Brown (RIP)(Vocals/Guitar/Fiddle), Bobby Warren (Vocals/Guitar) of "Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band", Legendary Lowell Fulson (RIP)(Vocals/Guitar), Mike Montano (Guitar/Vocals) of "The Mike Montano Band", James Harman, Legendary Frankie Lee (RIP)(Soul/Blues Vocalist), Mark Yeary (RIP)(Keys/Vocals) for Merle Haggard & "Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band", Eddie Munoz (Guitar/Vocals) of Eddie Munoz And Brushfire, Poppa Chubby Band, Charlie Musselwhite, Louisiana Red (Vocals/Guitar), White Boy James, Willie (Big Eyes) Smith, Fat Daddy Blues Band, Rolls Royce, Milo, Debonair, Tommy Castro And The Painkillers, Keith Galloway (Vocalist) Gary Andrews (Drums/Vocals) played with One Way, Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band, G-Six The Band, The Keith Galloway Band and many others, Gene Austin (Vocals/Keys) of G-Six The Band, Darnell Gholston (Keys/Drums) of G-Six The Band and many others, Mz.Sunnie Daye (Vocals) of G-Six The Band and many others, Joe"Citi"Feldt (Drums/Vocals) with The Mike Montano Band, Eddie Munoz And Brushfir and other artist, Jimmy Stewart (Guitar/Vocals) with Blue Bloods, Bobby Warren And The Dangerous Band and other atrist. Stay tune to the next episode of the adventures in the life and times of Wil Hamilton Jr.! See Yah...Much Love!! God Bless!!!

Bakersfield, CA