JOHN WILLIAMS

John Christopher Williams (born 24 April 1941) is an Australian classical guitarist renowned for his ensemble playing as well as his interpretation and promotion of the modern classical guitar repertoire. In 1973, he shared a Grammy Award win in the Best Chamber Music Performance category with Julian Bream for 'Together' (Works by Lawes, Carulli, Albéniz, Granados). Williams is noted for a technique that is often described as virtually flawless. Guitar historian Graham Wade has said: "John is perhaps the most technically accomplished guitarist the world has seen." Williams' first professional performance was at the Wigmore Hall in London on 6 November 1958.

Since then, he has been performing throughout the world and has made regular appearances on radio and TV. He has extended the repertoire by commissioning guitar concertos from composers such as Stephen Dodgson, André Previn, Patrick Gowers, Richard Harvey and Steve Gray. Williams has recorded albums of duets with fellow guitarists Julian Bream and Paco Peña. Williams is a visiting professor and honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Williams mostly uses Greg Smallman guitars after using Spanish Fleta during the 1970s  He also plays a guitar by Paulino Bernabe II.

Although Williams is best known as a classical guitarist, he has explored many different musical genres. He was a member of the fusion group Sky along with fellow Australian guitarist Kevin Peek. He is also a composer and arranger. At the invitation of producer Martin Lewis he created a highly acclaimed classical-rock fusion duet with celebrated rock guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who on Townshend's anthemic "Won't Get Fooled Again" for the 1979 Amnesty International benefit show The Secret Policeman's Ball.

The duet featured on the resulting album and the film version of the show – bringing Williams to the broader attention of the rock audience. Williams recorded "Cavatina" by Stanley Myers. The piece originally included only the first few measures but, at Williams' request, it was rewritten for guitar and expanded by Myers. After this transformation it was used for a film, The Walking Stick (1970). In 1973, Cleo Laine wrote lyrics and recorded it as the song "He Was Beautiful" accompanied by Williams. The guitar version became a worldwide hit single when it was used as the theme tune to the Oscar-winning film The Deer Hunter (1978).

SINGLES

''Pomegranate / Bach Changes'' 1972 Cube
''Rodrigo / Caprice No. 24'' 1980 CBS
''Cavatina / Serenade For Guitar And String Orchestra'' 1982 CBS

ALBUMS

'Columbia Records Presents John Williams' 1964 Columbia
'Virtuoso Music For Guitar' 1965 Columbia
'John Williams Plays Two Guitar Concertos' 1968 CBS
'John Williams Plays Spanish Music' 1970 Columbia
'More Virtuoso Music For Guitar' 1972 CBS
'Together' [with Julian Bream' 1972 RCA
'20 Studies For Guitar' 1972 The Record Society
'The Height Below' 1973 Cube
'Panorama Of The Guitar, Vol. 16' 1974 The Record Society
'Panorama Of The Guitar, Vol. 17' 1974 The Record Society
'Together Again' [with Julian Bream] 1974 RCA
'Rhapsody' 1974 CBS
'Best Friends' [with Cleo Laine] 1976 CBS

'John Williams And Friends' 1976 CBS
'Plays Guitar Music From England Japan Brazil Venezuela Argentina & Mexico' 1978 CBS
'Travelling' 1978 Cube'
'Manuel Ponce' 1978 CBS
'Live' [with Julian Bream] 1979 RCA
'John Williams Plays Bach & Scarlatt' 1981 Decca
'Portrait Of John Williams' 1982 CBS
'The Guitar Is The Song' 1983 CBS
'Let The Music Take You' [with Cleo Laine' 1983 Interfusion
'Echoes Of London' 1986 CBS
'The Seville Concert' 1993 Sony
'From Australia' 1994 Sony
'The Guitarist' 1998 Sony
'The Magic Box' 2001 Sony

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_%28guitarist%29