It’s never too late to get your music out there. And it sure helps if you have a famous relative to help you do that.
Hayley Williams, the frontwoman of pop-punk darlings Paramore along with fellow band member Zac Farro, have unearthed songs of Williams’ grandfather Rusty Williams, and with some studio magic, compiled them to be released as an album titled Grand Man.
At 78, Williams’ debut album will finally make its way to the surface at long last on February 14th, 2025, after 50 years on the shelf. With the thrill of the upcoming sonic artifact, Congrats Records — which is Farro’s label — released the lead single, “Knocking (At Your Door)” on January 14th.
The vintage soulful groove of “Knocking (At Your Door)” sweeps listeners gently into a sensual, sexy love ballad. This song — like many of his songs — was crafted for his wife, Sharon. The soft, charismatic sound of Williams’ voice offers graceful harmonies along with a rich, full-bodied band, giving this song depth and emotion.
Though the record is dedicated to his wife whom he married in 1965, it isn’t just emotion-packed love stories and impactful events in his life, but a collection of songs by a driven creative who had words pouring out of him and melodies to match. And naturally, Williams isn’t expecting to be thrust into the limelight with this release either. “I’m too old to be famous,” he states. It’s simply about getting his heart, soul, and art out into the world.
As a kid, he started singing in the church choir, and as he got older, he joined a band and wrote poetry mainly for Sharon, jingles for the local businesses, and taught himself how to play the drums, piano, and guitar. This inspired him to record an album in the 70s, which was essentially his life’s creative work. He never believed these songs would ever see the light of day.
Even through the journey of fatherhood and jobs, he never stopped creating. He would record on weekends, making as much music as possible in his free time. All these years later, his time to shine has finally come, and it wouldn’t have been possible without his granddaughter’s and Farro’s support and platform.
“So many people our age are mining these albums for tones and things you can’t even replicate,” Hayley says. “And Grandat has a way of cutting to the core of a feeling, and not overcomplicating them. Which we tend to do, because the world is hard. It’s nice when you can hear something plain and simple and know that it is true.”
The release of Grand Man is a great lesson that even without famous relatives, and even if it takes decades, it’s never too late to bring light to your dedication and passion.
