2018 North Carolina Heritage Award Recipient Tony Williamson celebrates this prestigious honor with "Heritage", a anthology of unreleased or out-of-print highlights from an illustrious 50-year recording career. Beginning with brother Gary in 1968, the program opens with a blistering instrumental version of "John Henry", and covers each phase and decade with contributions from such music legends as Tony Rice, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas. There are collaborations with today's stars like Martha Bassett and Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange"; and with his current band, Tony fulfills audience demand with new recordings hot off the press. This milestone CD promises to be a favorite for fans and critics alike!
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NC Heritage Awards 2018 full video
NC Heritage Awards profile of Tony Williamson
1. John Henry (2:21 traditional) Recorded at W.K. Buckner Studio, Tobaccoville, NC. March, 1968. Gary Williamson, banjo; Tony Williamson, mandolin; Bill Mollman, bass; Nick Hancock, guitar. Transfer to digital by Aaron Smithers and Brian Paulson at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 21, 2018.
2. Rambler’s Bed (3:23 Tony Williamson, Wynnwood Publishing, Inc.) Recorded by Paul Gerry, Revonah Studios, Hanover, N.Y. From “Bluegrass Dawn” by the Green Valley Ramblers: Tony Williamson, mandolin and lead vocal; Gary Williamson, banjo and tenor vocal; J.B. Prince, fiddle; Bill Mollman, bass; Albert Vestal, guitar, harmony vocal and band leader. Transfer to digital at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 21, 2018.
3. Red Maple Grove (3:05) Tony Williamson, Wynnwood Publishing, Inc.) Same as track 2.
4. Still Light Of The Evening (3:58 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) Recorded by Jerry Brown at Rubber Room Studios, Chapel Hill NC, February 2, 2018. Tony Williamson, mandolin and lead vocal; Gary Williamson, tenor vocal; Scott Huffman, guitar; Don Wright, banjo; Caroline Ririe, fiddle; Robert Sprye, bass.
5. Cabin Song #47 (3:06 Tony Williamson, Wynnwood Publishing, Inc.) From ASH&W, Rebel 1686. Courtesy Dave Freeman, Rebel Records. Recorded by Jimmy Edmunds at Innovative Sound, Winston-Salem, NC, 1988. Tony Williamson, mandolin and lead vocal; Craig Smith, banjo; Scott Huffman, guitar; Vernon Allred, bass and tenor vocal; Bobby Hicks, fiddle.Transfer to digital at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 21, 2018.
6. Land Of The Dead (4:58 Tony Williamson, Wynnwood Publishing, Inc.) From Jerry Stuart, “Rocky Run”, produced by Barry Poss. Courtesy David Freeman, County Records. Recorded by Bill McElroy at Bias Recording Co, Springfield, VA, 1977. Tony Williamson, Guitar and lead vocal; Gary Williamson, banjo and tenor vocal: Jerry Stuart, mandolin and baritone vocal; Bobby Hicks, fiddle; Tom Gray, bass; Albert Vestal, guitar. Transfer to digital at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 21, 2018.
7. Hickory Mountain (3:00 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) Same as Track 4.
8. Merlefest Mando-Mania (2:40 “Big Mon” Bill Monroe) Recorded by Robert Kirk, excerpt from performance on April 26, 2008, Creekside Stage, Merlefest. Courtesy Merlefest.
Order of mandolin solos: Tony Williamson, Rebecca Lovell, Sierra Hull, Sam Bush, duet by Tony and Sam. In background: Barry Mitterhoff, Tom Rozum, James Nash, Tim O’Brien, Mike Compton, Darren Aldridge.
9. Mountain Girl (3:05 Tony Williamson, MCP) Vassar Clements, fiddle; Tony Rice, guitar; Scott Vestal, banjo; Warren Amberson, bass; Carroll Clements, guitar; Gary Williamson, tenor vocal, Tony Williamson, mandolin and lead vocal. Recorded live at Randy Woods’ Pickin’ Parlor, Bloomingdale, GA, December 2004. Courtesy Flatt Mountain Records.
10. Dixie Breakdown (1:55 Don Reno) Recorded live at Union Grove Fiddler’s Convention, April 5, 1969. Featuring the Bluegrass Gentlemen: Gary Williamson, banjo; Tony Williamson, mandolin; Bill Mollman, bass; Nick Hancock, rhythm guitar, Michael Auman, lead guitar; Eugene Craven, fiddle). Transfer to digital at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 21, 2018.
11. Flight Of The Survivor (3:39 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) same as track 4.
12. Mr. Ambassador (4:00 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) From “Across The Grain” by Tony Williamson, produced by Norman Levine, Plucked String Records. Recorded by Tim Austin at Doobie Shea Studios, Ferrum, VA, 1994. Tony Williamson, mandolin and rhythm guitar; Jerry Douglas, dobro; Robbie Link, bass; Don Mercz, lead guitar.
13. Veinte Años (3:17 Maria Teresa Vera) Produced by Walter Holton. Recorded by Jeff Ayers, 600 South Productions, Winston-Salem, NC, April 5, 2002. Martha Bassett, vocal; Tony Williamson, mandolin; Walter Holton, rhythm guitar; Jeff Autry, lead guitar; Robbie Link, bass; Ron Wilson, percussion.
14. Unbelizeable (4:19 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) Recorded by Jerry Brown at Rubber Room Studios, Chapel Hill NC, February 27, 2018. Mandolins: Tony Williamson plays Gibson F-5 #75941 (March 31, 1924) left channel; Andrew Marlin plays Gibson F-5 #75696 (February 18, 1924) right channel.
15. Shakti (3:58 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) Recorded by Andrew “Rad Andy” Williamson, Burning Man Studios, Asheville, NC, 2010. Tony Williamson, mandolin; Andrew “Rad Andy” Williamson, guitar and drums; James Dawkins, bass.
16. If I Were (3:05 Tony Williamson, MCP, Inc.) Recorded by Jerry Brown at Rubber Room Studios, Chapel Hill NC, February 26, 2018. Tony Williamson guitar and vocal.
Photos by Andrea T. Deyrup (cover); Jane Hogan; Steven Gilchrist, Diane Haymes; Juliana Guill and Velna Williamson collections.
Art and layout by Andrew “Rad Andy” Williamson at Burning Man Studios.
Much love and gratitude to all my band mates over the past 50 years and all those who have enjoyed and supported my music.
Thank you to all the musicians, producers and recording engineers listed below; thank you to the North Carolina Arts Council, Glen Hinson, Wayne Martin, Sandra K. Davidson, Rodrigo Dorfman, Sally Peterson; Merlefest, Cliff Miller and SE Systems; David Freeman; Brent Lambert; Steve Weiss, Aaron Smithers and Brian Paulson at Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Special thanks to Andrea T. Deyrup for her patience, love and support. Tony Williamson, April, 2018.