Spotlight On: TERESA WILLIAMS

ABOUT this week’s podcast guest + radio hour featured interview:

Music history is filled with incredible backing vocalists who stepped to the foreground to claim their spotlight; Sheryl Crow, Whitney, Mariah, Cher, the list goes on. Unlike those women, today’s guest didn’t go seeking stardom, and will tell you her deeply southern upbringing taught her not to get too big for her britches. Her journey as a singer and musician and three decade partnership with her husband, guitarist and producer Larry Campbell, led her from dividing her time between her two passions - acting and singing (and as a couple dividing their time together, while Larry toured with Bob Dylan), to becoming bandmates. Levon Helm of the band called Larry to come to Woodstock, New York to produce his first new album since 1982, First Farmer, and Levon’s daughter and bandmate, Amy Helm, called on Teresa to sing with them. Music first brought Teresa and Larry together back in the mid-80s in New York City, and it would be what would bring them to work together with Levon and the Midnight Ramble Band. They worked together through what became a miraculous and amazing Grammy and Americana award winning seven year chapter of recording and touring in Levon Helm’s band, and frequent guesting with Phil Lesh, Little Feat, and Hot Tuna. Levon heartbreakingly passed away in 2012 of stage four throat cancer, and in 2015 the couple released their eponymous debut as Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams. Now back with their fourth album, All This Time, a collection of songs imbued with their enduring love, Teresa Williams may not have sought the spotlight, but it is most certainly a place that she has earned. She joins us as this week’s SHERO in the Spotlight.