For most of his career, Eurtis Williams was content to stand in the background as a musician and watch as artists basked in the limelight. However, the last two years has seen the journeyman guitarist meticulously craft his debut album.
That set, Day by Day, was released in March by Zojak World Wide. The South Florida-based Williams produced and arranged its 12 songs of which he wrote 10.
After over 35 years backing artists on Jamaica’s tourist and show scene and in the United States, he believed it was time to show a different dimension.
“Wi finish it a little while but wi never ready to release it till the right time. Mi feel good about it ’cause mi need people to hear what I am capable of,” said Williams, who is known in music circles as Purple.
Day by Day contains the title song, as well as Wicked Man and My God is Real. He covers two pop standards reggae-style— What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye and Crystal Blue Persuasion, first done by Tommy James and The Shondells.
My God is Real is a return to Williams’ gospel roots, which can be traced to hilly St. Mary parish in eastern Jamaica. He played instruments while in the church band and eventually became a member of several resident bands in the country’s top hotels.
Williams is best known to South Florida music fans as a member of the Millennium Band which has toured the US with acts like Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths and Glen Washington.
In addition to promoting Day by Day, Eurtis “Purple” Williams is preparing to release the anti-crime song, Bad Boys Bussing Dem Guns.
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