Percussionist endorsed by Pearl Percussion, Victor Williams became a highly regarded percussionist of many musical styles from pop to jazz to groove to gospel. Fellow musician Terry Battle described his style as “AmAfroCube” by his mastery of American, African, and Cuban rhythms.
In early years Victor started out with pop bands Right Turn Only (a ‘70s funk group), Sound Track (that became the backing band for the Kendells), going on to wedding bands including Sound Connection, and playing the regularly at the Cafe Park Plaza with guitarist O’Donel Levy. In the ‘70s he also did a lot of recordings with Bill Pratt’s Bratt Studios. After a five-year hiatus from playing music, he hooked up with the Carl Filipiak Group, while concurrently playing with Jump Street, as well as with guitarist Ken Navarro.
With Derek Brooks he recorded the theme song to the 1985 TV show “City Line.”
In 1991 he went to New York with Dennis Chambers to record the album “Getting Even.” As a band leader and as a freelance artist Victor went on to perform and record with Jimmy Wilson, Kelly Bell Band, Archaic Revival, Doug Segree Band, Larry Bright, David Bach… As a studio percussionist for Basement Boys Productions, pioneers of Baltimore Club dance music, appeared on many studio record releases including Crystal Waters, Vinx, Fertile Ground…
Williams was invited to join guitarist John McLaughlin’s group and recorded the 1998 album “The Heart of Things.” This recording led to a 1998 twenty country European Tour. The band consisting of McLaughlin, and Williams, with Dennis Chambers (drums), Matthew Garrison (bass), Gary Thomas (sax), and Otmaro Ruiz (keyboards), legendary in themselves, was considered one of the hottest bands ever on stage. This resulted in a live recording, “John McLaughlin and The Heart of Things, Live in Paris,” released in 2001 on Verve Records.
Williams along with guitarist/songwriter John Grant formed True Spirit in 1999. Many members cycled throughout their history. Later lineup included Gary Grainger (bass), Benjie Porecki (keyboards), Dave Fairall (sax), Najee (sax), and drummers included John Thomakos, Andre Blues Webb, Dennis Chambers. They released CD “True Spirit” in 2006.
In 2001 Victor joined Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClukin and Yolanda Adams in the famous “Hopeville Gospel Tour.” That was an east coast United States tour that ended at Constitution Hall in Washington DC.
In 2005 Victor began recording blues CD’s with Severn Records artists including Lou Pride’s “Keep on Believing,” and Tad Robinson’s “New Point of View.”
In 2007 Victor joined saxophonist Najee’s band, appearing on albums “Rising Sun” (2007 charted #1 nationally), and “Mind Over Matter” (2009 charted #2 nationally). The group toured the U.S. and worldwide, sharing stages with Hugh Masekela, Tom Brown, Maysa, Ledesi, and many other major artists…
In addition to national and worldwide tours, Victor and his groups played locally at Artscape Festival, The Haven, 13th Floor, Blues Alley, Birchmere, Eight by Ten, Rams Head…
In addition to band work, Victor also recorded soundtracks for commercials, movie trailers, and produced the sound effects for the independent film “The Lottery Incident.”
Following in the family tradition, Victor’s son Jamar Williams became hip hop recording artist B.I.S.H.O.P.
