        |
Alabama's Music Achievers
W
MUSIC ACHIEVERS
********************
WILEY WALKER - Andalusia, Alabama
-Member of Wiley & Gene, one of Country music's most successful duets of the late 1930's & 40's
-Co-wrote "Live and Let Live" and "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again"
JERRY L. WALLACE - Muscle Shoals, Alabama
-Co-Wrote "Even the Nights Are Better" for Air Supply and "Touch Me When We're Dancing" for Alabama
-Produced The Forester Sisters with partner Terry Skinner
GREELY WALTON - Mobile, Alabama
-Saxophone, clarinet or flute with bands led by Louis Russell, Louis Armstrong, Cootie Williams, Cab Calloway, and others
-Conductor for the Ink Spots Show 1945-47
TRAVIS WAMMACK - Muscle Shoals, Alabama
-First to develop and use the fuzz tone for an electric guitar
-His instrumental "Scratchy" was million seller when released in 1963
FRANK WARNER - Selma, Alabama
-Traveled throughout the rural U.S. collecting folk songs which were later published in "Frank Warner Sings American Folk Songs & Ballads"
-He discovered "Tom Dooley" and "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands"
MERVYN WARREN - Huntsville, Alabama
-Former member of Take 6
-Conductor, Record Producer, Arranger, Film Composer, Pianist, Songwriter and Vocalist
-Five Grammy Awards, six Dove Awards, and two Gospel Music Workshop of America Awards
CARL "BAMA" WARWICK - Brookside, Alabama
-Trumpet with Lucky Millinder, Teddy Hill, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, & Dizzy Gillespie
-In 1966 appointed musical director of the New York Correctional Institution
DINAH WASHINGTON-- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
-Known as the "Queen of the Blues"
-Began singing in church choirs then moved into popular music as a member of Lionel Hampton's band
FRED WESLEY - Mobile, Alabama
-Innovative trombone arrangements for artists James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Dr. John and Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, etc
-His JBs band of the 1970's found success with hard-funk single "Doin' It To Death"
WET WILLIE - Mobile, Alabama
-One of the best exponents of the Southern Rock sound of the 1970's
-Hits were "Keep On Smilin," "Street Corner Serenade," and "Weekend"
JERRY WEXLER-- New York, New York
-Played a pivotal role in developing Muscle Shoals into one of the major recording centers in the nation
-Brought Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett to Muscle Shoals to record
-Other artists recorded by Wexler in Muscle Shoals include Willie Nelson, Cher, Dire Straits, and Bob Dylan
JOHN T. "FESS" WHATLEY-- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
-Music teacher at Birmingham Industrial High School
-In his 45 year teaching career, over 300 of his students became professional musicians
AARON WILBURN - Ardmore, Alabama
-Hired by Curly Putman at Green Grass Music.
-Traveled with the Happy Goodman Family.
-Wrote "What A Beautiful Day For The Lord To Come Again!"
AUDREY WILLIAMS - Banks, Alabama
-Wife of Hank Williams and vocalist with the Drifting Cowboys band
-She continued to perform and record after Hank's death
CHARLES "COOTIE" WILLIAMS - Mobile, Alabama
-Top trumpeter during the 1940's
-Played with Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, and Billie Holiday, being showcased in Duke Ellington's band.
HANK WILLIAMS-- Georgiana, Alabama
-Singer/songwriter who composed such songs as "I Saw The Light," "Cold, Cold Heart" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
HANK WILLIAMS JR.-- Shreveport, Louisiana
-Singer/songwriter who currently holds the record for having nine albums on Billboards charts at one time
-Hits songs include "All My Rowdy Friends," "Family Tradition" and "There's A Tear In My Beer"
LINDA WILLIAMS - Anniston, Alabama
-Member of Robin and Linda Williams & Their Fine Group which formed in 1973
-Debuted on American Public Radio's Prairie Home Companion
-Co-writer on songs for Emmylou Harris and Tom T. Hall
NELSON WILLIAMS - Birmingham, Alabama
-Played with Cow Cow Davenport, Billy Ekstine, and later with Duke Ellington's band
-Lead his own band touring Europe throughout the 1950's & 60's
RANSOM WILSON - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
-One of the great flutists of the 20th century
-Two Grammy Awards for his playing
-Began conducting in the 1980's
"TEDDY" WILSON - Tuskegee, Alabama
-Member of the Benny Goodman Trio, the first interracial group to perform in the U.S.
-Led various studio bands 1930's through the 50's recording Billie Holliday and others
-Taught piano at the Juilliard School of music from 1945-52
TERRY WOODFORD - Sheffield, Alabama
-Signed exclusive production agreement with Motown Records producing the Commodores, Temptations, Supremes and others
-With partner Clayton Ivey, built Wishbone Studio and publishing company
MARION WORTH - Birmingham, Alabama
-Favorite on the Grand Ole Opry as well as the music rooms of Las Vegas during the 1960's
-One of the first Country performers to play New York's Carnegie Hall
TAMMY WYNETTE-- Red Bay, Alabama
-Known as the "First Lady of Country Music"
-Her classic, "Stand By Your Man" stood for 15 years as the largest selling single in country music
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date Of Birth | Date Of Death | Place Of Birth | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLAY Radio | Radio Station | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||||
| Wachter, Tony | Songwriter, Vocals, Eng. | Feb. 1, 1955 | Cullman, AL | ||||
| Wade, Glen | Country, Rock | Vocals | Sheffield, AL | ||||
| Wagnon Sisters | Pop, Gospel | Vocals, Piano | Ann & Becky | Tuscumbia, AL | |||
| Walbert, James D. | Gospel, Pop, Jazz | Piano | Vaughan Quartet | 1917 | Lawrenceburg, TN | Birmingham, AL | |
| Waldrep, Gary | Bluegrass | Banjo | Sand Mountain Boys | 1963 | Sand Mountain, AL | ||
| Waldroup, Jason | Gospel | Tenor Vocals | Greater Vision | Dec. 31, 1976 | Opelika, AL | ||
| Walker, Cindy | Country, Pop, R&B | Background Vocals | aka Cindy Richardson | TN | Florence, AL | ||
| Walker, David | Rock, R&B | Guitar | May 12, 1943 | Montgomery, AL | |||
| Walker, Debra | Country | Vocals | Gulf Coast Opry | 1956 | April 1, 2002 | Mobile, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Walker, Shawn | R&B | Studio Owner | Image Entertainment Studios | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Walker, Wiley | Country | Vocals, Fiddle | Wiley & Gene | Nov. 17, 1911 | May 17, 1966 | Laurel Hill, FL | Andalusia, AL |
| Walker, William | Jazz | Sept. 20, 1947 | Mobile, AL | ||||
| Wallace, Billy | Country | Songwriter, Vocals | Oklahoma City, OK | Athens, AL | |||
| Wallace, Evelyn Jenkins | Jazz, Gospel | Piano | AL Jazz Hall of Fame | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Wallace, Jerry L. | Country | Songwriter | Terry Skinner | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||
| Wallace, Lisa Taylor | Vocals | Jasper, AL | |||||
| Walters, Lizanne | Country, Pop | Vocals | Gordon Mote | Dec. 9, 1974 | Foley, AL | ||
| Walton, Greely | Jazz | Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Flute | Benny Carter, Louis Armstrong | Oct. 4, 1905 | Mobile, AL | ||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Walton, Wilbur Jr. | Rock | James Gang | |||||
| Wamble, Luther | Blues | Guitar | Clarence Gatemouth Brown | Mobile, AL | |||
| Wammack, Travis | Rock, R&B, Country | Guitar | Little Richard | 1946 | Walnut, MS | Muscle Shoals, AL | |
| Wammack, Travis Jr. Monkey | Rock | Drums | Little Richard | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||
| Warner, Frank | Folk | Banjo, Vocals | Frank Proffitt | April 5. 1903 | Selma, AL | ||
| Warren, J.W. | Blues | Guitar | June 22, 1921 | Aug. 5, 2003 | Ariton, AL | ||
| Warren, Mervyn | Pop, R&B, Gospel | Producer, Writer, Arranger | Barbara Streisand, Quincy Jones | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Warrior River Boys | Bluegrass | Group | Cullman, AL | ||||
| Warwick, William Carl "Bama" | Jazz | Trumpet | Teddy Hill, Dizzy Gillespie | Oct. 27, 1917 | Brookside, AL | ||
| Washboard Willie | Blues | Washboard, Drums, Vocals | aka William Paden Hensley | July 24, 1909 | Aug. 24, 1991 | Phenix City, AL | |
| Washington, Dinah | Jazz, Blues | Vocals | aka Ruth Jones | Aug. 29, 1924 | Dec. 14, 1963 | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Washington, Laura | Jazz | Vocals | Erskine Hawkins | 1926 | Aug. 30, 1990 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Watkins, Allen | Bluegrass | Banjo | Clair Lynch | Battleground, AL | |||
| Watson, Anthony | Vocals, Songwriter | Mobile, AL | |||||
| Watson, Dale | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | Oct. 7, 1963 | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Watson, Johnny Daddy "Stovepipe" | Blues | Guitar, Harmonica | Mississippi Sarah his wife | April 12, 1867 | Nov. 1, 1963 | Mobile, AL | |
| Watson, Ona | Jazz | Vocals | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Watson, Tim | Country | Vocals, Fiddle | Tammy Wynette, Randy Travis | Gadsden, AL | |||
| Watters, Bessie Atley | Gospel | Vocals | Gadsden, AL | ||||
| Watters, Harry | Jazz | Trombone | Al Hirt, Pete Fountain | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Watters, Ken | Jazz | Trumpet | Frank Sinatra, Ramsey Lewis | July 6, 1964 | Huntsville, AL | ||
| Watts, Nicole | Gospel | Vocals | The Perrys, The Seekers | June 27, 1972 | Alexander City, AL | ||
| Weaver, Bob | Country | Vocals | Travis & Bob | July 26, 1938 | Jackson, AL | ||
| Weaver, Jerry | R&B | Songwriter | Frederick Knight | Florence, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Weaver, Phil | Classical | Guitar | AL State Council on the Arts | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Weejuns | Rock | Group | 1962 | Sheffield, AL | |||
| Weeks, Terry | R&B | Vocals | Temptations | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Welch, G. Truman | Marching Band | Conductor | Band Masters Hall of Fame 1979 | June 15, 1919 | Claud, AL | Wetumpka, AL | |
| Wells, Jolly Little Whitt | R&B, Blues | Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter | Little Whitt & Big Bo | 1934 | Ralph, AL | ||
| Welsh, Stan | Blues, Pop | Guitar, Engineer | Santa Fe Symphony | 1948 | Sheffield, AL | ||
| Wesley, Fred | Jazz, R&B | Trombone | James Brown | July 4, 1943 | Mobile, AL | ||
| West, Charlie | Blues | Piano | Bill Broonzy & Carey Bell | Sept. 27, 1914 | April 16, 1976 | Andalusia, AL | |
| West, Robert | Record label owner | Lupine Records | Montgomery, AL | ||||
| Westbrook, Jimi | Country | Vocals | Little Big Town | Sumiton, AL | |||
| Wet Willie | Rock | Group | 1970 | Mobile, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Wexler, Jerry | R&B, Rock | Producer | Muscle Shoals Studios | Jan. 10, 1917 | Aug 15, 2008 | New York, NY | Sarasota, FL |
| Whatley, Edward | Jazz | Reeds | Fess Whatley's brother | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Whatley, John T. Fess | Jazz | Band Leader, Trumpet | Birmingham Industrial HS | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Wheaton, Karen | Gospel | Vocals | Hamilton, AL | Decatur, AL | |||
| Wheeler, Bryan | Rock, Country, R&B | Drums | Charlie Hayward, Mike Duke | Mobile, AL | |||
| Whitaker, Peggy | Country | Administrative | Country Music Association | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Whitcomb, Dale | Country, Bluegrass | Banjo, Fiddle, Vocals | Red, White & Blue(Grass) | Birmingham, AL | |||
| White Family | Bluegrass, Gospel | Group | Moulton, AL | ||||
| White, Andrew Broadus | Classical , Opera | Vocals | Ft. Deposit, AL | ||||
| White, Debbie | Country, Gospel | Vocals | Top Country Gospel Artist 1999 | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| White, Deborah Jo | Rock, Gospel | Vocals | Lynard Skynyrd | Memphis, TN | Vinemont, AL | ||
| White, Evelyn Darby Lynn | R&B, Gospel | Vocals | Aug. 6, 1953 | Mobile, AL | |||
| White, Jack | Country | Songwriter | Sept. 27, 1953 | Columbia, TN | Livingston, AL | ||
| White, Perry | Country | Vocals, Producer | Memories of Elvis Show | April 29, 1954 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | |
| White, Phillip | Country | Songwriter | Roger Murrah | Nashville, TN | Rogersville, AL | ||
| Whited, Ralph | Country | Fiddle | 1919 | 1994 | Oneonta, AL | ||
| Whitefield, Clarence | Jazz | Bass | Fess Whatley | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Whitley, Ray | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | Gene Autry | Dec. 5, 1901 | Feb. 21, 1979 | Atlanta, GA | Clay Co., AL |
| Whitlock, Bobby | Rock | Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar | Eric Clapton, George Harrison | 1949 | AR | Tuscumbia, AL | |
| Whitt, Eugene Horton | Gospel | Vocals, Songwriter | Stamps-Baxter Music | Boaz, AL | |||
| Widget Studio | R&B, Rock | Studio | Ron Ballew | Mar. 1970 | Sheffield, AL | ||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Wigginton, Hershel | Country | Vocals | Hee-Haw | Jan. 28, 1938 | Hamilton, AL | ||
| Wilbourn, Bill | Country | Aliceville, AL | |||||
| Wilburn, Aaron | Gospel | Vocals, Songwriter | Happy Goodman Family | July 9, 1950 | Ardmore, AL | Hendersonville, TN | |
| Wilburn, Jonathan | Gospel | Vocals | Gold City, Wilburns | Oct. 2, 1967 | Carthage, TN | Gadsen, AL | |
| Wilcox Exit | Bluegrass | Group | Baldwin Co., AL | ||||
| Will and the Bushmen | Rock | Group | Mobile, AL | ||||
| Williams, Audrey | Country | Vocals | Hank's 1st wife | Feb. 28, 1923 | Nov. 4, 1975 | Banks, AL | |
| Williams, Charles "Chas" | Country | Slide Guitar, Dobro | Nanci Griffith, Wynonna Judd | 1955 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Williams, Charles Cootie | Jazz | Trumpet | Chick Webb, Benny Goodman | July 10, 1908 | Sept. 15, 1985 | Mobile, AL | |
| Williams, Curly | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | June 3, 1913 | Sept. 5, 1970 | GA | Montgomery, AL | |
| Williams, Dewey P. | Sacred Harp | Vocals | Wiregrass Singers | Mar. 5, 1898 | Nov. 11, 1995 | Ozark, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Williams, E.W. | Jazz | Trumpet | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Williams, Elbert Skippy | R&B, Jazz | Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet | Count Basie, Duke Ellington | July 27, 1916 | Tuscaloosa, AL | ||
| Williams, Ernest Pinky | R&B, Jazz | Saxophone | Millinder, Freddie Mitchell | Oct. 6, 1914 | Tuscaloosa, AL | ||
| Williams, Hank III | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | |||||
| Williams, Hank Jr. | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | May 26, 1949 | Shreveport, LA | Gadsden, AL | ||
| Williams, Hiram King Hank | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | Drifting Cowboys | Sept. 17, 1923 | Jan. 1, 1953 | Mount Olive, AL | |
| Williams, Iva | Jazz | Bass | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Williams, Ivory Pops | Jazz | Bass, Bandleader | Fess Whatley | 1879 | Northport, AL | ||
| Williams, Jabo | Blues, Jazz | Piano | Pratt City, AL | ||||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Williams, Jett | Country | Vocals | Hank's daughter | Jan. 6, 1953 | Montgomery, AL | ||
| Williams, Johnny | Jazz, R&B | Vocals | Jan. 15, 1942 | Tyler, AL | |||
| Williams, Johnny Lee | R&B | Tenor Vocals | Drifters | Mobile, AL | |||
| Williams, Joseph Leon | R&B, Blues | Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter | Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf | Feb. 3, 1935 | Mobile, AL | ||
| Williams, Linda | Country | Vocals, Guitar, Banjo | Robin & Linda Williams Fine Group | July 7, 1949 | Anniston, AL | ||
| Williams, Melody | Gospel | Soprano Vocals | The Givens, The Nelsons | Northport, AL | |||
| Williams, Nelson Cadillac | Jazz | Trumpet, Vocals | Cow Cow Davenport, Billy Ekstine | Sept. 26, 1917 | Nov. 1973 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Williams, Paul | R&B | Baritone Vocals | The Temptations | July 2, 1939 | Aug. 17, 1973 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Williams, Ralph | Jazz | Saxophonist | Bill Cosby | Ensley, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Williams, Rufus | Jazz | Trumpet, Drums | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Williams, Sabrina | Country | Fiddle | Oakman, AL | ||||
| Willis, Aaron | Blues | Harmonica | Detroit Blues artists | Oct. 6, 1932 | Greensboro, AL | ||
| Willis, John D. | Country, Gospel, Rock | Guitar | |||||
| Willis, Ralph Bama | Blues | Vocals, Guitar | Brownie McGhee | 1910 | 1957 | AL | |
| Wilson, Eugene B. "Happy" | Country | Administrative | Marion Worth | June 29, 1919 | Aug. 24, 1977 | Winston Co., AL | Birmingham, AL |
| Wilson, Jay | Rock | Anniston, AL | |||||
| Wilson, Krystye | Rock | Vocals | 1975 | Phil Campbell, AL | |||
| Wilson, Ola Belle Brown | Gospel | Vocals, Songwriter, Educator | Stamps-Baxter | Dec. 3, 1907 | May 18, 2000 | Boaz, AL | |
| Wilson, Perry | Country | Guitar, Vocals | Lefty Frizzell, Wyn Stewart | 1940 | Milltown, AL | ||
| Wilson, Ransom | Classical | Flute, Conductor | Oct. 25, 1951 | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Wilson, Teddy | Jazz | Piano, Conductor | Benny Goodman, Art Tatum | Nov. 24, 1912 | July 31, 1986 | Austin, TX | Tuskegee, AL |
| Wilson, Tony Lewis | Jazz | Trumpet | Harrison Cooper Orchestra | Nov. 12, 1945 | Memphis, TN | Birmingham, AL | |
| Wilson, Wilbur W. | Gospel | Vocals, Songwriter, Educator | Stamps-Baxter | Sept. 11, 1905 | Nov. 24, 1974 | Franklin, GA | Boaz, AL |
| Windham, Greg | Country | Vocals | 1966 | Andalusia, AL | |||
| Winston, Shirley | Classical, Opera | NY City Opera Company | Montgomery, AL | ||||
| Winter, George | Rock, Pop | Keyboards | George Winter Band | Oct. 1939 | Bloomfield, NJ | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
| Wire Grass Singers | Sacred Harp | Group | Ozark, AL | ||||
| Wishbone Studios | R&B, Country, Pop | Studio | 1972 | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||
| Witcher | Rock | Group | Florence, AL | ||||
| Wohlford, Eddie | Pop | Vocals, Piano | Tommy Shaw | Montgomery, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Wolfe, Tom | Jazz | Guitar | U of A Jazz Director | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Wood, Mitchell Booty | Jazz | Trombone | Basie, Ellington, Hampton | Dec. 27, 1919 | Wedowee, AL | ||
| Woodard, Jerry | Rock | Vocals | Talladega, AL | ||||
| Woodford, Terry | R&B, Pop, Country | Studio, Producer, Writer | Clayton Ivey | Oct. 9, 1942 | Princeton, IN | Sheffield, AL | |
| Woodson, Ali-Ollie | R&B | Vocals | The Temptations | Detroit, MI | Town Creek, AL | ||
| Wooldridge, Milton | Country | Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter | Ernie Ashworth, Gordon Terry | Oct. 31, 1940 | Athens, AL | ||
| Wooten, Willard L. | Gospel | Bass Vocals, Promoter | Sacred Tones | ||||
| Worth, Billy | Country | Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter | aka Ernie Ashworth | Dec. 15, 1928 | Huntsville, AL | ||
| Worth, Marion | Country | Vocals | Grand Ole Opry | July 4, 1930 | Dec. 19, 1999 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Wray, Bob | Country, R&B, Pop | Bass | Muscle Shoals & Nashville Studios | Sept. 26, 1947 | Stevens Point, WI | Sheffield, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Wright, Andrew | R&B | Songwriter | Percy Sledge | Sheffield, AL | |||
| Wyker, John | Rock | Vocals, Songwriter | Sailcat | Mar. 14, 1945 | Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
| Wynette, Tammy | Country | Vocals | George Jones, Billy Sherrill | May. 2, 1942 | April 6, 1998 | Itawamba Co., MS | Red Bay, AL |