Will Kimbrough
| Will Kimbrough | |
|---|---|
|
Austin City Limits Music Festival (2008) | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
May 1, 1964 Mobile, Alabama United States |
| Genres |
Country Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Accordion, Banjo, Bass guitar, Dobro, Harmonica |
| Years active | 1985 - Present |
| Labels | Lost Highway, Oh Boy Records |
| Associated acts |
Will and the Bushmen The Bis-quits |
| Website | www.willkimbrough.com |
William Adams "Will" Kimbrough (born May 1, 1964 in Mobile, Alabama) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Biography
Kimbrough started his musical career as a founding member of Will & the Bushmen,[1] a popular college band in the eighties that produced a handful of albums and singles and made it to MTV. He then went on to form the Bis-quits with long-time friend Tommy Meyer.[1] The Bis-quits produced an eponymous album which was released on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records label.
Kimbrough is also a producer and has produced albums for Adrienne Young, Rodney Crowell,[1] Todd Snider,[1] Kate Campbell, Kim Richey, Garrison Starr, Matthew Ryan, and Josh Rouse.
His songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat, Jack Ingram, Todd Snider and more. Kimbrough has also collaborated with many artists including Rosanne Cash, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Gomez, Emmylou Harris, The Jayhawks, Mark Knopfler, Buddy Miller, John Prine, Toumani Diabate, Kim Richey, Josh Rouse, Matthew Ryan, Billy Joe Shaver, Todd Snider, Mavis Staples, Garrison Starr, Adrienne Young, and others.[2]
Kimbrough was recognized in 2004 as the Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Association – an award that had previously been awarded three years in a row to Dobro ace Jerry Douglas.[2] His songs demonstrate a literate facility that he pairs with guitar playing so fluid that his fans created a t-shirt suggesting he's an alien.[3]
Kimbrough teamed up with Tommy Womack, John Deaderick, Paul Griffith and Dave Jacques in 2005 to create the five piece band, Daddy. They recorded a live album in Frankfort, Kentucky Daddy at the Women’s Club and later an album called For a Second Time.
In 2007, Kimbrough released EP – his solo studio recording that revealed a hint of what would develop on his next full-length release.[2]
Kimbrough has released several solo albums to date, and has collaborated on many more, as well as serving as a session musician and sideman. Kimbrough was one of the guest artists at Jimmy Buffett's Live from the Gulf Coast Concert on July 11, 2010.
In March 2012, it was announced that Kimbrough had joined Trigger Hippy in place of guitarist Audley Freed.
Influences
Born and raised on the Alabama Gulf Coast, Kimbrough ingested eclectic FM radio sounds and the music of nearby New Orleans as a young man. His sound has been influenced by traditions of folk, blues, gospel, country, punk rock and jazz.
Will Kimbrough described "When Your Lovin' Comes Around" from his 2014 release, Sideshow Love, as "a little bit of a tribute to JJ Cale," whom he said was a significant influence on his music.[4]
Social commentary
The songs on his album Americanitis, such as "Warring Ways" and "Everyone's in Love", have been described by Kimbrough as anti-war and anti-greed themed.[3]
His album Wings explores themes surrounding the conflicts between family and career, love and work, parents and children. The music is based in folk rock, with touches of guitar, cello, saxophone, trumpet, banjo, and Hammond organ.[2]
Discography
Solo albums
- Fireworks, Vol. 2 (1999)
- This (2000)
- Home Away (2002)
- Godsend (2003)
- Americanitis (2006)
- EP (2007)
- Wings (2009)
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gordon, Rev. Keith A. "Biography: Will Kimbrough". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 Farley, Mike. "Will Kimbrough Bio". willkimbrough.com. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- 1 2 Phillips, Casey (8 October 2009). "Will Kimbrough is an Alien". Chattanooga Times/Free Press (TN). Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ↑ from an interview on episode 178 of the Americana Music Show, released February 10, 2014
External links
- Official Site
- Daddy Band Site
- Will Kimbrough collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jerry Douglas |
AMA Instrumentalist of the Year 2004 |
Succeeded by Sonny Landreth |
|