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 With the release of her album “Crocodiles and Rainbows,” Kathy Williams has achieved a lifelong dream. “Ever since I was a child” she said, “I could hear music in my head and I knew I wanted to be a singer.” With two original songs on the CD, she also became a songwriter. Kathy decided to partner with her friend, arranger and pianist John Brainard, who worked with her from the start. “We go back 25 years,” she exclaimed, “and I’m thrilled to be working with him again.”
Born in Ohio, the oldest of seven children, she remembers hearing her father sing. Her parents bought a used Baldwin baby grand and started Kathy and her sister Karen with piano lessons. From the age of six, Kathy has loved and been involved with music. Playing the piano or singing, solo or with ensembles, nightclub entertainment or theatre, she is an energetic performer. In the 70’s after singing  with a group called “Heads and Tails”, she formed her own band, “Kathy Williams and Sweet Rhythm”. “We wanted to do something different, so we created a show including some novelty tunes from Spike Jones, performed cabaret style.
I learned from the styles of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. People loved it because the show was a surprise in the middle of the disco sets.”
Kathy and John are doing the same thing today, choosing songs that would appeal to children, yet adding some sophisticated jazz arrangements. “That’s John’s department.” she says, “his genius created unique arrangements for each tune. I’d like kids to be exposed to the great songbook from the 40’s and 50’s, yet have the music appeal to the grandparents and parents as well.”
By the way, Kathy has the rare combination of businesswoman and artist.  During the time she raised her sons Todd and Scott, she managed a sales force for Lancôme and Shiseido. Then she earned her MBA and developed marketing programs for Hewlett-Packard, managing partnerships like Oracle, Warner Bros. and Universal Music Group. She envisions using that experience to help other artists.
Kathy has come a long way, literally. Now inspired by her grand daughter Kayla, she is devoted to her music. She is an accomplished vocalist, composer and performer. Today Kathy loves to coach and encourage children of all ages in music.
CD also available at: www.CDBaby.com and at Amazon.com
 
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