by Monica Tsai
Staff Writer
Born into a family of coal miners in Pennsylvania, hometown pals of musician Mark Williams never would have never guessed that he would gain notoriety one day. Although Williams, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, has been writing and playing music since he was 15, the most tangible product of his career has come about recently. Thanks to a Community Foundation grant funded through the J. Shephard, Jr. and Mary Ann Bryan Arts Endowment, Williams has been able to produce a CD of his own work.
“Apparently, I am the first musical artist to receive it, from what I understand,” said Williams. “Usually, the recipient is a visual artist. This will allow me to produce my own art and retain the rights.”
“Ghosts of Eden” is the first official compilation of his solo music. The CD includes everything from smoky jazz tunes to stark Western pieces to more upbeat sounds. It’s a long way from his beginnings with the Last Surviving Buffalo in Pennsylvania.
“I get bored easily, so one day I’m in this kind of group that’s raw,” he said. “Next, I’m sitting around with an acoustic guitar playing country. Then I’ll get bored with that and try to write or play something I’ve never heard before.”
Early in his career, Williams traveled his home state trying to break into the industry. He was a regular participant on the Homegrown Music Show, a public radio broadcast which kept the rights to his recordings for the program because the station footed the bill for production costs.
“This is my first actual CD,” said Williams. “In New York, I would release two or three songs. The only time I could afford to go into a studio was if someone paid for it. Then I was limited with what I could do because it was for their projects.”
In New York City, an acquaintance was appearing in an off-Broadway show. Williams sent some music samples to the producers and, he was hired as the alternate guitarist. As he played in the pit with members of the Harry Chapin’s original band.
Later, Williams began writing music for videos. He composed a score for a fashion video, then one for the New Jersey state police. Williams joined Spike Heel Feel, a post-punk band, featuring astrologist Kat Lane as their vocalist and lyricist.
Their shot at the Billboard charts surfaced when The Jets, a popular dance group at the time, wanted to do one of the Spike Heel Feel’s songs. The deal fell through though when Lane refused to sign the contract because of money.
Williams parted ways with Lane and resumed writing music for videos, this time for the commercial and industrial markets.
His big break came when Williams was asked to write the music for the short film “Dough,” starring Wallace Sean, who wrote “My Dinner with Andre.” A modified version of the theme from “Dough” is on his new album.
He, his wife Barbara and their two sons, Matthew and Luke, then moved to Long Island. He soon tired of the commute and seriously began rethinking his strategy.
“I didn’t want to be like that guy in the Talking Heads video that says, ‘This is not my beautiful house . . . how did I get here?’,” he said. “I didn’t like the lifestyle, so I had to get out of there.”
Seizing an opportunity to sell photography, Williams moved south.
“I was so worried that my music would disappear,” he recalled. “But over the last few years, it’s blossomed. Now my total existence is through my music.”
These days his band, Blue Horse, plays monthly at Kevin’s Grille in Jacksonville Beach. Blue Horse includes Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra cellist Linda Minke, bass player and Douglas Anderson School teacher Landon Walker, Rick Wagner and Bill Pillmore, who was in a band with Dwayne Allman.
Every other month Williams holds what he calls a soiree at his Ponte Vedra Beach home where he invites other artists to perform. The public is invited and donations of $15 per person are requested. Maximum capacity is about 100 people.
“Barbara wanted this all her life,” said Williams of his wife, an actress who directs a number of children’s plays. “People love the fact that it’s in our home because it’s personal. They get to talk to the artists. And I know what it’s like playing in bars and clubs. The first time I played in a club I was 16 and made $13.50.
“It started out as something for our friends and anyone who our friends felt would enjoy it. Other people began talking about how to get involved. People like it; they like feeling part of the artistic process. Everyone is there to support the artists and the artists love the intimacy. In our home, we allow the artists to do whatever they want to.”
The next soiree is scheduled for January.