The Wiliamsons

[Velvett Fogg]

THE WILLIAMSONS

Great Barr, Birmingham

http://www.brumbeat.net/william.jpg

Keith Law- Vocals/Guitar
Bill Spilsbury- Vocals/Harmonica
Alan Blunt- Vocals/ Guitar
Anthony Basterfield- Bass
Graham Travers- Drums

Keith Law was Lead Guitarist/Vocalist, with The Williamsons
which featured lead vocalist, and blues harp player, Bill Spilsbury.
Alan Blunt and Anthony Basterfield.
The band were a highly respected blues band from Great Barr.
Their gigs included, The Macabre, Casa Bambu, West Bromwich's only blues club.
The Stork Club, Walsall Casino, where they were often, the main band or,
support to the more well known bands at that time, including ,
The Moody Blues'.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/KeithAlan0061964.jpg

Keith Law, Alan Blunt

The Williamsons, supported the legendary Blues Artist
'Sonny Boy Williamson' when he appeared
at the Whiskey Go Go, in Birmingham,
in the late 60's. Hence the dedicated name

[Velvett Fogg]

Here's a blog, from BrumBeat

Brum Beat- Sonny Boy Williamson & John Mayal In The House

Friday, January 12, 2007


Sonny Boy Williamson & John Mayal In The House.
Category: Music

Greetings people,


I just wanted to revert back to the last blog with regard to Keith Law, something that came up again in conversation recently which I thought was definitely worth sharing with you all, Keith's first band was a West Brom outfit called "The Williamsons".

The Williamsons

Keith played in the band during the mid 1960's and amongst their support slots they performed before the legendary blues artist "Sonny Boy Williamson". Williamson had been been brought to play in the Golden Eagle in Hill Street by Georgio Gomelski while touring with the Yardbirds, another who played before Sonny Boy in Birmingham was Spencer Davis. "The Williamsons" band became a dedication to Sonny Boy. Before he left the Industrial heartland, Sonny Boy gave Keith's band a wonderful accolade by declaring the Williamsons "..a great young blues band." true praise indeed from a man who started his own career playing alongside people such as blues hero's Robert Johnson, Robert Nighthawk, Robert Jr. Lockwood and Elmore James.

Sonny soon returned to the U.S. after his European shows and continued to play until his untimely death on May 25, 1965. Sonny Boy Williamson left behind an array of truly inspired future Rock legends such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Robbie Robertson to name but a few, and talking of Eric Clapton... (taken from a recent email from Keith Law:)

'Someone mentioned Wolverhampton,
and one night in the late 60's I stood in a queue
with Robert (Plant), outside Wolverhampton Town Hall.
Top of the bill, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.
Bob and I went to the Gents, and were
chatting, and then we were joined by two blokes,
on Bob's left hand side stood John Mayall,
and on my right, stood Eric Clapton!!! ' - Keith Law

(Robert Plant later covered Sonny Boy Williamson's 'Bring It On Home' while playing in Led Zeppelin)

And so, back to 2007. I think that the need for a small low key but well fitted out blues venue in central Brum today is quite apparent, Ronnie Scot ts fitted the bill until it turned into a lap dance bar, although the prices were a little steep (when it was Ronnie's of course), anyone reading this with a love of Blues could do far worse than put their money into a low key Brum Blues joint, the performers are out there, they just need a stool, mike, amp, drinks and audience to entertain (I really don't like large overpriced venues like the Alexandra), anyway I shall let Keith close this blog.. stay safe guys. BB

'You don't have to be famous,
to make a living in the music business,
just give the folks, what they want' - Keith Law

[Velvett Fogg]

Update soon on this band