THREE RIVERS AREA — Don’t be fooled by that youthful face and boyish smile. Luke Williams is no amateur musician. He plays with the big boys.
He calls his style “Skynyrd meets Brad Paisley.” Williams sat in the small office of his grandmother’s consignment shop in Beebe during a brief visit to his hometown. He has two homes now: one in Beebe and one in Nashville, Tenn.
His baseball cap, on backward, covered his long, red locks. A glow of enthusiasm emanated from the 17-yearold’s face when he told a story of meeting country music star Brad Paisley for the first time.
“He had seen some of my music on YouTube,” Williams said. “I did a demo for Crook Custom Guitars.” Williams said someonetold Paisley that when he came to Little Rock for a concert, there was this kid he needed to meet. Williams said he was shocked that Paisley knew who he was before any introduction.
“I got to jam with him during the sound check,” Williams said. “We’ve stayed in contact.
He and all his band guys are the coolest.” Anything but an overnight success, Williams is still paying his dues.
He said that for his 8th birthday, he asked his dad for a guitar. Carey Williams assumed that because Luke was so young, he would soon forget the guitar, and it would be collecting dust in a corner in no time.
“As soon as he got the guitar,” Carey said, “three days later, he said he needed guitar lessons.” Carey, who acts as Luke’s manager and booking agent, said he bought Luke a child’schord book and told him that if he learned five chords, he’d pay for lessons.
“Within an hour, he shows me five chords,” Carey said ashe grinned.
Family friend Troy Cook Jr. was living in Beebe at the time and gave Luke guitar lessons for a few months.
“After about six to eight months of lessons, I told him he needed to get out there andfind some people to play with,” Cook said. “He’s such a likable kid; everybody liked to play with him, and he learned a lot by playing with older guys.”
Cook, who is a guitarist for Grammy Award winner David Ball, has also been a catalyst for Luke’s career.
“He knew what he wanted to do,” Cook said. “I had about 40 to 60 students a week, and he was obviously, by far, the most talented.”
Luke hit the road with his guitar on his back when he was only 10. He described himself as a 3-foot-tall, 10-year-old kid with a guitar bigger than he was. His band, the Luke Williams Band, comprises Carey, drums; Scotty Baker, bass; James Weatherly, acoustic; and, of course, Luke, lead guitar and vocals.
The Luke Williams Band began playing gigs all over Arkansas, and Luke said he plans to always come back and play the local events where he got his start, no matter how famous he becomes.
“They’ve taught me more than words can say,” Luke said about his band members. “I would not be where I am now without their support.”
At the age of 12, Luke said, he went to Georgia to play guitar with Vince Neil, of Motley Crue fame, and his band. Upon arrival, Luke was introduced as the guitar player.
“They looked at me and laughed,” Luke said.
Those Los Angeles rockers weren’t laughing after Luke picked up his guitar and started playing.
“They just saw this little redheaded, freckle-faced 12-yearold boy,” Carey added.
Luke and his band played the club circuit for a couple of years, until, Carey said, the smoking law changed. It became illegal for Luke to be in a club where the patrons smoked.
Packing up, Carey and Luke went to Nashville to see what they could find. Luke jumped on stage at Tootsies Orchid Lounge and played when the musicians took breaks. He happened to be playing when the manager walked in. Soon after, then 14-year-old Luke had a job as a staff guitarist at the lounge where many legends, such as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Willie Nelson, once played.
Not only is Luke an accomplished musician; he is also a songwriter. He wrote or cowrote all but one song on his new CD, which will be released this fall. In fact, Luke said, a few radio stations are already spinning some of his songs from the CD.
“A lot of times, I’ll come up with a melody first and then try to come up with the lyrics people can relate to,” Luke said, “and what I can relate to.”
Getting his first record deal at 16, Cook knows the effect the music industry can have on a kid.
“It’s really good to see a young guy who doesn’t fall prey to all the stuff from traveling with a band,” Cook said about Luke. “I’ve watched him progress and get better, and he’s always been very grateful.”
Luke has played music with people such as Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser and Jeff Bates.
“Luke is a fine guitar picker,” award-winning musician Tim Crouch said - “one of the most talented young guitar players I know.”
Carey said he and Luke willtake a mini vacation to visit Fanfare in Nashville.
“We’re not on the bill yet, but we’re working on it,” Luke said with a confident smile.
Upcoming events for Luke are as follows:
◊Tecumseh, Okla., Little River Music Valley, opening for Sammy Kershaw, July 16;
◊ El Paso, M & M Stop and Shop, July 17; and
◊Little Rock, Bootfest 2010, Sept. 5.
To see Luke Williams’ full schedule, visit his website at lukewilliams.net or find him on Facebook.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 121 on 06/13/2010