Biography
Born on 23 October 1951 in Pulaski, Tennessee, Wills has established himself as a versatile multi-instrumentalist whose work spans pop, rock, and jazz while also embracing contemporary country styles. His performances alongside new traditionalists can be traced through a series of late-80s sessions, one of which took place at New York’s Knitting Factory. Wills handles organ, synthesizer, bass, and guitar in addition to numerous other instruments, and he contributes vocals as well.
Since the late 70s his services as a session player have been widely sought, resulting in appearances on releases by Stonebolt, Negativland, Paul McCartney, Perri, Eric Serra, Kirk Whalum, Terry Robb, Ce Ce Peniston, Ricky Lawson, and Bill Engvall. Each of his first three albums registered on Billboard’s country charts, with the 1975 debut Barrooms To Bedrooms peaking at number 13.
Beyond performance, Wills has composed numerous songs, among them ‘Do It For The Love’, ‘Charlotte’s In North Carolina’, ‘Going Through The Motions Of Love’, ‘Holding Out Hope To You’, ‘I’m Losing My Life’, ‘If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger (There’s One Coming Home)’, ‘Leona’, ‘Line On Love’, ‘No Honor Among Thieves’, ‘A Soft Place To Fall’, ‘Streets Is Watching’, ‘They Never Lost You’, ‘Was She Worth My Heart?’, ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are’, and ‘You’re The Last Thing I Needed Tonight’. These works have been interpreted by Jay-Z, Jack Greene, George Strait, Michael English, Con Hunley, Sawyer Brown, John Michael Montgomery, Toby Keith, Chris LeDoux, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Rhonda Vincent, Jennifer Weatherly, Patty Loveless, and John Schneider. He has also supplied music journalism and liner notes, while his photography has appeared on various CD packages.
Since the late 70s his services as a session player have been widely sought, resulting in appearances on releases by Stonebolt, Negativland, Paul McCartney, Perri, Eric Serra, Kirk Whalum, Terry Robb, Ce Ce Peniston, Ricky Lawson, and Bill Engvall. Each of his first three albums registered on Billboard’s country charts, with the 1975 debut Barrooms To Bedrooms peaking at number 13.
Beyond performance, Wills has composed numerous songs, among them ‘Do It For The Love’, ‘Charlotte’s In North Carolina’, ‘Going Through The Motions Of Love’, ‘Holding Out Hope To You’, ‘I’m Losing My Life’, ‘If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger (There’s One Coming Home)’, ‘Leona’, ‘Line On Love’, ‘No Honor Among Thieves’, ‘A Soft Place To Fall’, ‘Streets Is Watching’, ‘They Never Lost You’, ‘Was She Worth My Heart?’, ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are’, and ‘You’re The Last Thing I Needed Tonight’. These works have been interpreted by Jay-Z, Jack Greene, George Strait, Michael English, Con Hunley, Sawyer Brown, John Michael Montgomery, Toby Keith, Chris LeDoux, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Rhonda Vincent, Jennifer Weatherly, Patty Loveless, and John Schneider. He has also supplied music journalism and liner notes, while his photography has appeared on various CD packages.
Albums
