He was raised in a tiny town called Fries, Virginia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Highlands. His early days were spent in a house with woodstoves for heating and cooking, and no indoor plumbing. It’s not surprising that Johnny Williams is a versatile man who can rise to just about any occasion. He’s a farmer, a builder, a mechanic, a band manager, a promoter, a rhythm guitarist and singer, and an award-winning songwriter whose material is being recorded by increasing numbers of bluegrass artists.

He’s also married to Jeanette Williams, a singer whose star is steadily rising. Originally called Clearwater, Jeanette’s band was actually founded in 1989 by Johnny, its guitarist. The band’s name now reflects his wife’s growing popularity. “She’s the drawing card—not to slight the other members, but that’s why we’ve evolved into the Jeanette Williams Band,” he says matter-of-factly. “She’s got a lot of national recognition, where nobody knows who I am outside the East Coast.”

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