Williams, Paul

PAUL WILLIAMS

  • From Wythe County, Virginia. Lives in Morristown, Tennessee.
  • Real name: Paul Humphrey.
  • 1951, joined the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers as a teenager. When he and his brother Jimmy auditioned for that job, they called themselves The Williams Brothers. He has been known as Paul Willians ever since.
  • 1957, after a stint in the Air Force, joined Jimmy Martin to form The Sunny Mountain Boys. He is best known for his work with this group, including many songs which he wrote for Martin. Jimmy Martin is also his brother-in-law.
  • 1963, left Martin’s band to work for the U.S. Postal Service. Continued to write gospel songs and lead the choir at his church in Morristown, Tennessee.
  • 1995, formed The Victory Trio, a gospel group.
  • 1996, retired from the Postal Service to perform full-time.
  • 1997, released Ain’t God Good album (Rounder).
  • 1999, released Old Ways & Old Paths album (Rebel), which was nominated for a Grammy Award the following year.
  • 2001, released Hard Working Pilgrim album (Rebel).
  • 2001, released Higher Ground album (Rebel) with Cliff Waldron.
  • 2002, released I’ll Meet You in the Gloryland album (Rebel).
  • 2003, released Living on the Hallelujah Side album (Rebel).
  • 2004, was featured on the Grammy nominated album “A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass.”
  • 2004, released I’ll Be No Stranger There album (Rebel).
  • 2005, released When the Morning Comes album (Rebel).
  • 2007, released Where No One Stands Alone album (Rebel).
  • 2008, released What a Journey album (Rebel).
  • 2010, released Just a Little Closer Home album (Rebel).
  • 2010, recorded an album with Doyle Lawson and J.D. Crowe called Old Friends Get Together (Mountain Home). They also performed several concerts together.
  • 2011, released Satisfied album (Rebel).
  • 2012, released Going to Stay in the Old-Time Way album (Rebel).
  • 2014, retired as a touring musician.
  • 2018, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.