MOUNT VERNON - A Musical Showcase featuring Brewton-Parker College alumnus and
singer/pianist David Williams of Baxley will be Saturday as part of the
college's annual Alumni Weekend festivities, announced Hildegard Stanley,
professor emeritus of music.The showcase begins at 2 p.m. in the Gilder Recital Hall of the Miller Music Building on the Brewton-Parker campus.
Williams, who earned an associate of arts degree from Brewton-Parker in 1984, is an elementary school music specialist at Appling County Elementary School and director of Georgia's first elementary performing show choir, the Aces. He also performs his songs of love and hope every weekend and some weeknights in a wide variety of atmospheres. Having performed in more than half of the United States, Williams made his debut in New York in July 2002.
Williams met acclaimed pianist/singer Emma Kelly, "The Lady of 6,000 Songs," at the age of 14 and through this relationship saw the need to bridge the generation gap in music appreciation. Using the music of Johnny Mercer, who wrote many songs about being in love and the environment and attitude of the South, Williams used his show choir and Kelly to bridge the gap.
The choir, along with Kelly at the piano and his assistant Carol Grainger, they collectively perform 12 of Mercer's tunes in presenting a treasured time of memorabilia as Kelly relates the background of the songs to the choir members and their audiences.
Among his honors, Williams was noted in 1997 as being "the male version of Emma Kelly," a statement Williams said he considered the ultimate compliment. In 1999, Williams was named Teacher of the Year for both Appling County Elementary School and the Appling County School System. In 2001, Williams was named Baxley's first Better Hometown Hero.
Stanley said Williams would play three 30-minute sets of music during the Musical Showcase, between which other alumni will perform. The event is free and open to the public.
For inquiries concerning the Musical Showcase, contact Stanley at 912-537-8938.
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