About:

            Walkin’ Willie:

 

                                                                                                                       

Walkin’ Willie sings songs

from the Appalachian Trail

to the Mississippi regions, using

his trademark dobro and wooden

guitar.

 

 

Style:            Folk & Blues

            With a Bluegrass Attitude

 

The music encompasses songs about trains, women, whiskey & gospel.  These tunes owe as much to Bill Monroe as Robert Johnson.  Blues & bluegrass fans can hear these styles in a unique Folk interpretation, which originated in the North Carolina hills.  This blended style has been used by Merle Travis, Doc Watson & Mississippi John Hurt among others.  The culture of this music is where the energy comes to life during each live performance!

 

 

Experience:

 

Walkin’ Willie has shared the stage with Jerry Jeff (“Mr. Bojangles”) Walker, doc Watson and many other regional & upstate NY musicians.  He won the local Stan Rodgers Songwriting contest in 1985 in Rochester, NY.

 

He has performed at many Bluegrass festivals, Blues & Folk venues as a solo performer and with bands.  This includes Rochester’s harbor Beach Fest with Blue Delta and Manhattan Square Park’s summer concert series with the Bluegrass band Cabin Fever.

 

Quotes:

 

“… Walkin’ Willie has captured an original folk sound – a mix of Appalachian and Adirondack flavors… reminds me of the Soggy Bottom Boys singing into the can from the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou”…  Banjo Bob Tinney, Producer
Blue Mountain Ballad CD

 

“… deftly blends pre-war blues with bluegrass roots…”  Dan Bindert, formerly of  Rochester City Newspaper, reviewing DOWN HOME BLUES CD