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Will Callery’s
reputation as a
songwriter and
performer is
widely known and
respected by
artists and fans
across genres.
His music has
been recorded
and performed by
artists ranging
from Willie
Nelson and
Jerry Jeff
Walker to
Norah Jones.
Born in Terre
Haute, Indiana,
and raised in
Owensboro,
Kentucky, Will
Callery fell in
love with the
sounds and songs
of the South.
Eventually the
muse led Will to
the west coast
where he
developed his
songwriting
skills playing
legendary
coffeehouses and
roadhouses from
San Diego to
Coos Bay, from
Cid's Blue
Beat in
Newport Beach to
The House of
the Rising Sun
in Redondo, The
Ice House in
Pasadena, The
Ash Grove in LA,
and The Golden
Bear near San
Diego.
Will Callery’s
songwriting
talent was
recognized
immediately, and
he began touring
with such
notables as
Ramblin’
Jack Elliott,
David Lindley,
Sonny Terry and
Brownie McGee,
Chuck McCabe,
Arlo Guthrie
and
Taj Mahal.
Will eventually
returned to the
sunny South and
moved to
Nashville where
he worked as a
staff writer for
April-Blackwood
Publishing
(CBS). He rented
an apartment on
17th Avenue and
hung out with
some of “the
boys that made
the noise on
16th Avenue,”
living in the
same house as
such legendary
songwriters as
Kris
Kristofferson.
After forming
“Lusaza Goose,”
a duo with Roger
Bartlett,
Callery moved to
Austin, Texas,
where they began
opening shows
for Jerry Jeff
Walker, Willie
Nelson and
Little Feat.
Jerry Jeff
Walker soon
recorded several
songs written by
Will Callery,
including “The
Pot Can't Call
The Kettle
Black,” “The
First
Showboat,”
“Leroy,” “Pass
It On,” and
“Hands on the
Wheel.”
While touring
Colorado and New
Mexico with
Billy C and the
Austin Healeys,
Callery got a
call from Willie
Nelson informing
him that Willie
had just cut his
song, “Hands on
the Wheel” on a
new concept
album, titled
The Red
Headed Stranger,
released
by Columbia
Records in 1975.
This landmark
record went
double platinum,
won a Grammy
nomination and
put Will Callery
on the
international
map as a
songwriter and
performer. Jerry
Jeff Walker was
instrumental in
getting “Hands
on the Wheel” to
Willie Nelson,
playing it for
Nelson at an
“all night
song-swapping
session.”
“Hands on the
Wheel” was also
chosen as the
title song for
the movie,
The Electric
Horseman,
which starred
Robert Redford
and Jane Fonda.
This helped
Callery develop
a strong solo
writing and
touring career
with his
contemporaries,
Jerry Jeff
Walker, Charlie
Daniels, Milton
Carroll and
Willie Nelson.
Will Callery was
later signed to
a four year
contract with
Lone Star
Records,
Nelson’s Texas
imprint for the
Columbia label.
His first album
received
critical acclaim
by fans and
press alike.
Rolling Stone
selected “The
First Showboat”
as a Top Single
Pick and called
it, “A strong
offering...brilliantly
constructed,”
and “a smashing
debut by the
multi-talented
entertainer.”
Rolling Stone
went on to say,
“Few singers
have made a more
noteworthy entry
into the
commercial
marketplace than
Callery.” His
performance
career has taken
him across the
country and
included shows
at Willie
Nelson’s Fourth
of July Picnics,
which drew over
300,000 people.
Callery can also
be seen in the
film,
Heartworn
Highways,
with Townes Van
Zandt, Guy
Clark, Steve
Earle and Rodney
Crowell. In
addition to his
film work, Will
has written
songs for such
television shows
as “St.
Elsewhere” and
“Northern
Exposure.”
However,
Callery’s
success came
with a price.
After developing
a drug abuse
problem that
hindered his
career and
personal health,
Callery returned
to his home in
Kentucky. He
bought a
chainsaw and
went to work
falling timber
for five dollars
an hour,
eventually
moving to the
Pacific
Northwest
working as a
lumberjack in
Washington,
Oregon, Idaho
and Montana. But
the music never
left his heart
and soul.
Now the time has
come for Will
Callery to
return to the
music that stirs
his soul and so
many others. His
new CD,
Rider Comin’ In,
was recorded in
Austin at The
Zone Studios
with legendary
musicians Will
has worked with
over the years
such as Joe
Forlini, guitar
man
extraordinaire
who has worked
with Jerry Jeff
Walker, Willie
Nelson and
Stevie Ray
Vaughan. T.
Gozney Thornton
adds harmony
vocals and
soulful blues
harp. Greg Lowry
plays anything
with strings not
to mention
“pipes” and
“thumb piano.”
Will’s dear
friend Jerry
Jeff Walker
performs a duet
with Callery as
they reprise
perhaps
Callery’s
most-famous song
thus far, “Hands
on the Wheel.”
And last, but
not least, the
incredible
rhythm team of
Eddy Cantu
(drums) and Ted
Sweeney (Fender
fretless bass)
work their usual
magic.
Rider Comin’ In
will be released
nationally on
September 16,
2008 on Feats
Records,
distributed by
Burnside
Distribution.
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