In the basement of Lula B’s on Fort Worth Avenue, there are two vintage shops managed by The World Famous Tony Williams.
“This is Space 137,” Williams says, as he smiles and proudly extends his arm out into the room. Racks of clothes are stuffed against the walls — the store just had a selection of winter coats come in. Each piece of clothing was handpicked by Williams.
He’s got an eye for fashion and went to school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, but it’s “just one of his worlds,” as he calls it. His other world is his music.
Music runs in the family. His parents were saxophone players, he grew up playing the piano and organ, and his cousin should be a familiar name: Kanye West.
Williams has been on every national and international tour with West since 2006.
“Because I had done extensive work on Late Registration and a lot of work on College Dropout, my voice was on both projects,” Williams says. After vocalist and pianist John Legend was forced to leave the tour, “…I was the replacement live touring vocalist and I have been ever since.”
So what’s a five-time Grammy award-winning musician doing on the lower level of an antique store in Oak Cliff? Since coming to North Texas more than 20 years ago, Williams has been invested in supporting local music.
“I was — I’ll say frustrated, it’s better than disgusted — by the lack of the live music scene in Dallas,” he says.
To ease his frustration, Williams debuted Uncle Pete’s Parade, a show highlighting up and coming local musicians and talent, last month at Club Dada. The second edition of the concert series, named in honor of Williams’ first mentor and business manager, Pete Tyler, is Thursday at RBC.
The last in Dallas before Williams joins West on the upcoming Saint Pablo Tour, the show will feature a diverse lineup of North Texas artists, including bluesman Charley Crockett, indie rockers The Rebellion, Thomas Lightfoot, and, naturally, The World Famous Tony Williams himself, with his band Terminal D. Williams hopes the showcase will bring more attention to local artists.
Williams plays me a couple songs from his upcoming album, To Gain the World: King or the Fool, Vol. II, which is due to be released later this year. The songs are a striking blend of rock, blues, jazz, and R&B doused in funk.
He also puts me on the spot and quizzes me on my taste in music — it’s a little uncomfortable, and while he’s not too rude, I’m reminded of his cousin’s prickly reputation. But I understand where he’s coming from. Williams is determined to make sure his music, and the local music scene he supports, get the recognition they deserve.
With Uncle Pete’s Parade, he could help accomplish just that.
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“This is Space 137,” Williams says, as he smiles and proudly extends his arm out into the room. Racks of clothes are stuffed against the walls — the store just had a selection of winter coats come in. Each piece of clothing was handpicked by Williams.
He’s got an eye for fashion and went to school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, but it’s “just one of his worlds,” as he calls it. His other world is his music.
Music runs in the family. His parents were saxophone players, he grew up playing the piano and organ, and his cousin should be a familiar name: Kanye West.
Williams has been on every national and international tour with West since 2006.
“Because I had done extensive work on Late Registration and a lot of work on College Dropout, my voice was on both projects,” Williams says. After vocalist and pianist John Legend was forced to leave the tour, “…I was the replacement live touring vocalist and I have been ever since.”
So what’s a five-time Grammy award-winning musician doing on the lower level of an antique store in Oak Cliff? Since coming to North Texas more than 20 years ago, Williams has been invested in supporting local music.
“I was — I’ll say frustrated, it’s better than disgusted — by the lack of the live music scene in Dallas,” he says.
To ease his frustration, Williams debuted Uncle Pete’s Parade, a show highlighting up and coming local musicians and talent, last month at Club Dada. The second edition of the concert series, named in honor of Williams’ first mentor and business manager, Pete Tyler, is Thursday at RBC.
The last in Dallas before Williams joins West on the upcoming Saint Pablo Tour, the show will feature a diverse lineup of North Texas artists, including bluesman Charley Crockett, indie rockers The Rebellion, Thomas Lightfoot, and, naturally, The World Famous Tony Williams himself, with his band Terminal D. Williams hopes the showcase will bring more attention to local artists.
Williams plays me a couple songs from his upcoming album, To Gain the World: King or the Fool, Vol. II, which is due to be released later this year. The songs are a striking blend of rock, blues, jazz, and R&B doused in funk.
He also puts me on the spot and quizzes me on my taste in music — it’s a little uncomfortable, and while he’s not too rude, I’m reminded of his cousin’s prickly reputation. But I understand where he’s coming from. Williams is determined to make sure his music, and the local music scene he supports, get the recognition they deserve.
With Uncle Pete’s Parade, he could help accomplish just that.
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