Time: 9 p.m.
Cover: none
Will Randall http://www.willrandall.org/fr_home.cfm
Will
Randall was born in Dawson Creek B.C. in 1980. His father, Wyley
Randall is an accomplished singer/ songwriter so there is no question to
where Will get's his talent. In 1989 at the age of nine, Will started
singing in Tootsies Orchid Lounge with his Dad where he began to gain an
interest in the instumental aspect of the music. At the age of 10,
Wyley began teaching Will the basic chords on the guitar and along with a
friend, Bill Holmes, teaching him guitar licks, before long Will was
well on his way!
Will would attend "Writer's Nights" with
his father at various venues as well as "The Rhinestone Cowboy", a honky
tonk on Lower Broadway of which his father owned. Number 1 hit writers
would host the shows and play songs that were just written or were hits.
By attending these venues Will was getting his feet wet, even
accompanying his Dad on stage periodically on songs his Dad had written
By the time he was 12, Will had his own gig at the Turf Bar & Grill
on Lower Broadway in which he played the whole Summer to thousands of
tourists from the US and abroad. Will eventually started playing more
lead guitar, learning from some of the best guitar pickers in Nashville.
In 1990, the music world lost a good friend and a guitar picker named
Phil Baugh, one of the original Nashville Superpickers. At a benefit
that was held in Nashville, Will, being a typical enthusiastic kid, aged
10, went around and was meeting all the different artists. He
eventually was able to get up and sing and oddly enough, songwriter
/singer, Mickey Newbury gave him his treasured guitar to play and he was
even accompanied with harmonies on "Good Hearted Woman" by David Allen
Coe. He was also asked to get up and sing when Waylon Jennings couldn't
remember the words to a song he was singing called "Wrong". As Will was
pitching him the words from the floor Waylon looked at him as said
"you're wierd kid, get up here and sing this with me". And Will did.
Marty Stuart also took Will under his wings and whenever his Dad took
him to see any concerts that Marty was at, Marty always took him
backstage with him.
In 1993 Will was fortunate to tour
Germany as a duo with his Dad. They played what they call "Country Music
and Trucker Festivals". Altogether he spent 6 weeks overseas. It was
one of the greatest experiences of his life. Mostly playing in East
Germany, Will became a favorite at Festivals because of his talent and
early age of only thirteen. Will was asked to be on stage and sing with
many of the popular acts that were performing and they made quite a show
of it.
Will and his dad moved back to Canada in 1995 as
Wyley felt it was time for him to spend some time getting to know his
family. Until this day Will has a great rapour with his relations. Will
moved to Vancouver, BC in 1996 to finish his schooling occasionally
playing at the jam sessions at the local clubs. This landed him a gig
with a band called Restless Pony in 1999, he began touring across
Canada. He has played with various groups across Canada such as Prairie
Knights, Texarcana, Cosmic Cowboys and Wendall Donovan & Eastcoast
Riders.
His influences range from Lefty Frizzel, Merle
Haggard to Brad Paisley. His rendition of the old George Jones classic
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" you will surely get a feel for Will's love
of the old stuff and sure to love the modern stuff as well. As for his
original material they hold the Nashville sound coming straight from
Will's heart and soul.
In 2006 Will's hard work paid off
when he tried out for the TV show "Canadian Idol". He made it to the
23rd spot and unfortunately only 22 were accepted.
It is now
2010, after taking some well needed time off to get his life and
priorities back on track Will Randall is back and better than ever, he
is definitely on his way to fulfilling his dream! With such a wonderful
past and great friends that he has in the Music Industry, Will now knows
it's time to reclaim what he's let slip by him for so long. Its time to
give back to Country Music what Country Music has given Will.