Album Notes

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. 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 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, Billie 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."