On February 26, 2021, celebrated TOTO singer and film / television composer JOSEPH WILLIAMS will release his first solo album in thirteen years, titled “Denizen Tenant” out via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. It will be released on the exact same day that Steve Lukather releases his new solo album “I Found The Sun Again.”
At fifteen (he’s now aged sixty) Joseph Williams, the son of film composer John Williams and actress Barbara Ruick and grandson of jazz drummer Johnny Williams and actors Melville Ruick and Lurene Tuttle, began a career singing for TV and radio commercials.
Williams was Toto’s lead vocalist in the mid-to-late 1980s and then, later, on the band’s reform in 2010. When the group disbanded in 2019 (later to reform in 2020) Williams was the only former line-up member (in addition to guitarist Steve Lukather) to come back to the fold.
Williams released his first self-titled solo album in 1982 and has also had a very successful career as a composer of film and drama soundtracks and has been in high demand as a session vocalist, to be heard on numerous other artist projects.
Williams says: “Although my album is an eclectic collection of songs, this one tells you what you need to know to get a real sense of the whole. You can see where I’m going vocally for sure.
For the recording, Williams asked a variety of incredibly talented artists to contribute parts. Among the many collaborators are his Toto bandmates David Paich and Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips, Leland Sklar, Lenny Castro, Nathan East, all of whom enjoyed tenures at Toto. 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 new song: “Never Saw You Coming” (taken from the new album) has already been released. It is a docile, politely syncopated tumble with greatly pleasing vocal harmonies, provocative guitar rhythms and a lively (if circumspect) sense of connectedness and positivity.
The Solo Album is out February 26, 2021 via The Players Club / Mascot Label Group