Joseph Williams and The Players Club / Mascot Label Group present “Wilma Fingadoux,” the third and final track release from his upcoming new studio album out February 26. The accompanying video was self-produced and directed by Williams and can be viewed below. He offers, “’Wilma Fingadoux’ is the latest in a long line of musical messages, songs and poems to my mother who died at the age of 41. I was 13 years old. This song is a reflection of the painful yet wonderful place in my memory where I can speak to her. Also singing with me are my daughters Hannah Ruick and Ray Williams. Their voices, their presence, makes me so proud of my beautiful girls and their unparalleled talent. And I feel relief also because in this way they too can speak to her through music the way I always have. My mom had such a sharp sense of humor. The title of the song is the punch line of one of my favorite jokes she used to tell…she taught me how to feel funny deep inside! This lyric is my release letter. Miss you Momma! Xojoe.”
Both Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather will release solo albums simultaneously on February 26, 2021. Both artists made significant contribution to the other’s album.
Joseph Williams’ “Denizen Tenant” was self-produced outside of the compositions “Black Dahlia” and “No Lessons” which were arranged and produced by Jay Gruska and mixed by Dave Way. The musicians and singers who made contributions in the studio reads like a who’s who of players that have been in the artist’s life over the past four decades. Amongst these contributors are band-mates from TOTO David Paich and Steve Lukather. Simon Phillips, Leland Sklar, Lenny Castro, Nathan East, all of whom enjoyed tenures in TOTO are also featured players on the album. Additional contributions include performances by Oscar Bugarin, Jay Gruska, Mike Landau, Barbara Gruska, Steve Overton, Dylan Ronan, Hannah Ruick, Steve Tavaloni, Weston Wilson, Ray Williams, and Mark T. Williams. The album was produced and mixed at Digbyroad Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA.
“Denizen Tenant” features a dozen new recordings. Amongst these are a cover of The Beatles “If I Fell,” which Williams cites as the one specific song that taught him about the power of harmonies and vocal arrangements. On Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up,” a very special guest performance is featured in his daughter Hannah laying down a vocal track. Across the recorded repertoire, there is a consistent presence of performances by guitarists Steve Lukather and Mike Landau alongside percussionist Lenny Castro. Williams reflects, “Mike Landau has been playing on my music since I was a teenager and he just knows what to do. His parts always inspire me. They help move me to the next step in the writing process. Steve Lukather is like this as well.” In reference to Lenny, he offers, “He knows exactly what is needed and he will give me so many choices. I always get what I want. Like Mike Landau I’ve been working with Lenny since I was a kid.” The record is a part of the continual, on-going collaboration of the triumvirate of Lukather/Paich/Williams. Williams co-wrote “Liberty Man” with Paich, while the keyboardist performed Hammond B3 on “Black Dahlia,” and shares, “I love writing with Dave. On this tune, like many others, we spent hours talking about history, religion, music, literature, movies etc. Always leading us like excited kids to a subject or concept for the song. Then we start throwing out phrases, collecting and discarding ideas. Shaping and reshaping melodies along the way.”
The recordings will be available individually on both CD and LP, alongside on all streaming services globally. A limited-edition 4-LP deluxe edition is available with the two titles bundled together. The pre-order is now live and available here.
TOTO recently staged a global livestream event, and have begun to announce plans for global tour dates in 2021. For detail visit www.totoofficial.com.
