Willem McCormick
Willem Mccormick is a Los Angeles based [singer-songwriter] originally from New Orleans, Louisiana .Having several regional hits since the late 1990's, McCormick's songs are often AbOUT lifes trouble, girls, and life's everyday girl troubles. Guitar World magazine described McCormick as knowing a thing or two about writing a killer song hook.
Early Start
Living an hour south of New Orleans in Houma,Louisiana, McCormick, at the age of nine years old had an interest in bluegrass music and showed an interest in learning the banjo. Upon realizing there would be no banjo teacher available McCormick's mother would enroll him in guitar classes at Kenny Hebert's Music. Upon getting his hands on an electric guitar his music preference of choice became rock. As a teenager he played in a few garage bands and listened to Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and other guitar based hard rock bands but when he began writing his own songs later on his music came across with a more melodic approach.
He first live original performances were at The Point After in downtown Houma. Because of a slight case of nerves local open mic host Ron Maynard suggested he wear sunglasses to perform. With that suggestion the tunes poured out and within a year Willem McCormick had recorded his first album "Ten Good Reasons" at Mke Loupe's home studio. After the record was produced by McCormick and Barry Bowen it was released and well recieved as one of the top 100 releases of Louisiana artist in 1995. McCormick appeared regularly on the radio show " Z Morning Zoo" on the Z100 radio staion.
Willem McCormick played locally on the New Orleans scene at such popular venues as Muddy Waters, Tipitina's and Jimmy's while earnestly self promoting the band both independantly and with the help of co-promoter Bowen.
During this time Willem McCormick also started promoting a series af concerts south of New Orleans in Houma called Rock-a-thon. He booked and promoted bands from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and even New York and Los Angeles. His band would sometimes play a set during the festival.
Local businessman and music enthuisiast Tommy Lyons had taken an interst in McCormick's music upon hearing his "Ten Good Reasons" effort and had assisted him in getting new material recorded. He also helped get a well defined studio band in place to record and play live. Bowen got the new materials into the hands of record producer Trina Shoemaker who had just committed to working on Sheryl Crow's second album. Sheryl Crow's record was reportedly finished a few days early because of Shoemakers commitment to McCormick. Sheryl Crow reportedly remarked, "Who is this Willem McCormick, what label is he on?!?
The album was almost picked up by three major labels, Atlantic, RCA/BMG, and MCA.
The record recieved favorable reviews in Guitar World magazine, Tribe, [Offbeat] magazine and McCormick toured regularly with close friend Jay Nelson on bass guitar and a revolving door of drummers. Entertainment lawyer Jeff Lacque showed an enthuisiastic interest in the group calling McCormick a "genius freakin' songwriter" and not only helped book and manage the project for a while but even played gigs as drummer on occassion. The song Last Night recieved regular airplay WCKW.
Willem McCormick has played with some of the best musicians in the business including Allman Brothers/Jimmy Page drummer Kerry Brown and Neil Young drummer Karl Himmel. Recent projects include live performances and recordings with renowned pedal steel guitarist Dave Easly.
TV performances,Soundtracks and commercials
One of McCormick's tunes was used in a commercial for Mountain due and he has also scored indepenent movie soundtracks. The independent film A separate Identity features his keyboard and piano music. His band has played live on such television shows as the [WWL] Morning Show Louisiana Jukebox, etc. Some music performances have aired on a variety of stations.
Willem!
After the initial buzz of "Ouch!" McCormick eventually settled in with drummer Jamie Pittman whom he met at Offbeat magazine, Jim Ankar on bass, who he met through a friend and DAKOTA Emerson who knew him from his music playing in Houma. The four collaborated using McCormick's songwriting and guitar ability along with Pittman and Ankars strong rythm section and Emersons backing vocals and guitar. They released the next album under the band name Willem! The album was called "Time To Find The Guggenheimer" and featured much edgier guitars and a more overall modern rock sound. The album featured McCormick on lead vocals on much of the tunes but Dakota Emersons efforts recieved an equal amount of acclaim. This lineup remained for for years until they played their final show with this lineup at the Gretna Heritage Fesitival in 2004. Pittman and Ankar moved to Mississippi and Tennessee. McCormick and Emerson moved to Mandeville, Louisiana. During this time they played under the name Willem McCormick Band featuring Dakota Emerson as well as simply Willem & Dakota."
Other Willem McCormick and Dakota Emerson projects
They also backed New Orleans' based Matt Holt band, a country group and Lamarque Street, a guitar rock band from Mandeville.
Artwork
McCormick has also devoted a considerable amount of time to artwork, having sold Oil and acrylic paintings in the French Quarter in New Orleans. There he met actress Angelina Jolie who he had previously painted a few pictures of. Soon after he painted of large portrait for her with her dressed in white wearing a single strand of Mardi Gras beads with a red pepper at the end.
California
Willem McCormick relocated to Los Angeles at the end of 2008 to be involved in a more rock oriented music scene. He has a New album in the works. Dakota Emerson keeps close contact while also working on her own recording projects in [San Angelo], Tx.
Discography ==
Ten Good Reasons - 1995 Ouch! - 1996 Live - 1998 Time To Find The Guggenheimer - 2003
Willem McCormick has also recorded over ten albums with comedy/rock group Cabel T-B.
References
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20031225/GRAPEVINE/312250302
--71.107.4.67 (talk) 15:49, 19 June 2009 (UTC)C. Charlotte