Rusty Williams releases debut album at 78 with help from Hayley Williams
Williams started making music as a child and in the early 1970s, he was working on his own songs with his friend and producer, Frank Morris. But the album never came out. When music executives in Nashville wanted him to change his style to match the country genre, Williams said no. He stayed true to his own sound, so the recordings were set aside and forgotten.
The tapes were found again years later when Morris was moving houses. Sharing them with Williams's family got everyone excited, especially Hayley, who had grown up hearing her grandfather play these songs on the piano.
In addition to his music career, Williams is also a family man. He has been married to his wife, Sharon, for over 60 years. They have two children and several grandchildren.
When Hayley found the recordings, she asked for help from her bandmate Zac Farro. He runs a record label and saw their worth. Zac worked on digitizing the old tapes. This turned the vintage sounds into a polished album, blending old-time charm with modern quality.
The new album showcases Williams' unique style with personal songs. One track, "Riverboat Gambler," shows his daring spirit. Another, "Knocking (At Your Door)," shares themes of longing and determination.
For Hayley, the album is more than just music. She felt like she was diving into a living history, more vivid than a photo album. Listening to her grandfather's music made her feel connected to his past and respected his artistic legacy.
For Williams, releasing the album is not just a dream finally coming true but also a family celebration. Even after all these years, he still loves music. In a light-hearted moment during an NPR interview, Williams joked that it had finally made him famous.
Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist and only constant member of the rock band Paramore, which she co-founded in 2004.
I probably hang out with gran and granddad more than anyone else in my life, and I hear stories all the time. But when you get to actually experience a piece of that history, and it gets brought into the present with you, that's just, like, better than a photo album. It's like you're sitting there with all of it in the moment.
