Mason Williams Inducted into the
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

October 14th, 2013 was the presentation of the award, in Muskogee, by my presenter, Byron Berline. I told Byron it was about time he made himself presentable.

For my acceptance speech, which I didn’t know I was going to have to make, I sang most of it, especially the goofy stuff that comes to mind at the moment.

The next day (10.15.13) Barry “Bones” Patton and I did a TV show for KTUL in Tulsa. We played Classical Gas and I sang Cowboy Buckaroos to the midi-strings track I had. I also taped some extra Christmas stuff for them to air during the holidays in December. (Silent Cow / Silent Chickens / Somewhere Over my Waistline and my new lyric for Mistletoe Moustache.)

That afternoon I met with the string players, The Tulsa Strings, (3) violins / viola / cello / bass at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. We (me / Barry and them) rehearsed a couple of times and then did the show. I got a great response from the audience and from people afterwards. Lots of compliments on the diverse choice of material, the added production values of the string player arrangements and Barry as my “bonified” percussionist. Good poster.

Thanks to Jim Blair and all his wonderful staff, the Tulsa Strings group and Barry for a great one to remember!

-Mason Williams, 10.15.13


The Eagle Rock, Rock & Eagle Shop

An idea 48 years in the making!

In 1964 Ed Ruscha had a studio in Eagle Rock, CA.

Mason Williams joked that he should turn his studio into the “Eagle Rock, Rock and Eagle Shop” - one that would sell only eagles and rocks or ideally eagles on rocks.

On April 1, 2012, LA artist Bettina Hubby will open “The Rock and Eagle Shop” at a soon-to-be-determined prime location in Eagle Rock.

It will open as a temporary art retail space with an intentionally limited lifespan of 2 months.

For more info, click here.


Foggy Mountain Guitars

...Announces Mason Williams Signature Line!
Check out the Foggy Mountain Website to preview and order.
www.FoggyMountainGuitar.com


RECENT PERFORMANCES & APPEARANCES!


Mason Williams speaks at MOCA event in LA

December 9th, 2007 3:00 PM

Mason Williams' piece Bus has become part of the permanent collection at MOCA in LA.

It is a featured part of Artists' Gifts; Michael Asher at MOCA Grand Avenue.

In conjunction with the display Mason took the opportunity to discuss his career and creative life and how it has intersected and integrated the commercial world and the world of art.

For more information visit the MOCA website at www.moca.org

Museum of Contempory Art, Los Angeles
250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-621-1745


Untitled Artspace event showcases Mason Williams Retrospective

Oklahoma City - November 9-11, 2007

Untitled Artspace hosted an art exhibit featuring Mason Williams art pieces, photos and miscellany from his expansive career in music and television. Mason teamed up with Byron Berline and his bluegrass band for two wonderful performances.


Williams inducted into Oregon Music Hall of Fame

First Annual Induction Ceremony - Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon.

Mason was honored as one of fifty artists inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame at a gala event celebrating the talents of our fine state. Mason Williams was joined by harp guitarist, John Doan in a short set to help celebrate the event. To find out more check out www.omhof.org.


Mason Williams & Friends perform at The Temecula Old Town Community Theater

Featuring a special art exhibit - a Mason Williams Retrospective!

The folks of Temecula were dazzled by Mason's new art exhibit and appearance at the Temecula Old Town Community Theater in California on Sunday, August 26, 2007. The show was a benefit for the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. The Mason Williams Retrospective of photos and art items were at the Temecula Theater Gallery. For more information visit the Temecula Old Town Theater Website. We will be adding the Retrospective to this website in the coming weeks.


Mason Williams introduces "Üpclose Glimpse"at the Stencil Artist League, Inc. Convention

Burlingame, California

Mason has teamed with internationally known stencil artist Sheri Hoeger to produce a series of limited-edition stenciled prints. The prints are a blend of Mason's irrepressible sense of humor and design with that of Sheri's aesthetic and technical skills. The first of these prints made it's debut on July 20th. See SALI's website for more info about the event. Check out ART PROJECTS on this site for more information about current and past works of Conceptual Artist, Mason Williams.


Mason Williams Joins Bluegrass Buddies at Oklahoma Mozart

Bartlesville, Oklahoma enjoyed a wonderful performance in June by legendary fiddle player, Byron Berline and his band, with special guest (and old pickin' buddy) Mason Williams.


Mason Williams & Friends perform at The Getty Center Event

Los Angeles, CA

Modern Art in Los Angeles: Okies Go West. An Evening with Jerry McMillan, Ed Ruscha and Mason Williams

The Getty Center hosted a panel discussion and special performance by Mason Williams & Friends on January 24, 2007. For more information, visit www.getty.edu.


Richard E. Wildish Community Theater
Opening Gala Event

Springfield, Oregon

Grammy Award-Winning musician Mason Williams & Friends entertained the opening gala crowd in the brand-new 284-seat theater in Springfield, Oregon. The glitzy gala event concert held on December 1, 2006 in the Wildish Theater was a huge success! For more information about this new facility, contact Billie R. Moser, Volunteer Public Relations & Marketing for SRDC 541.682.8380 wildishtheaternews@yahoo.com


Mason Williams Performs with Craig Einhorn

Roseburg, Oregon

Mason Williams performed five of his compositions (as recorded by Craig Einhorn on his Obras CD) with Craig & Friends and the Umpqua Symphony. The concert was held at 7:30 on Saturday, September 30th in the Rose Theater on the Roseburg High School campus.

Craig Einhorn & Mason Williams during the recording of OBRAS.

Primal Twang - The Legacy of the Guitar

World Premier - September 7 -10, 2006
Birch North Park Theatre, San Diego, CA

Mason Williams joined acclaimed guitarist Dan Crary and a stellar cast of guitar luminaries for an exciting production filmed for DVD release with stories and music from guitar's past, present and future.

For more information visit www.primaltwang.com.


Mason Williams & Friends Perform at Pacific Northwest Librarians Association Annual Conference

August 11, 2006
Valley River Inn, Eugene, Oregon

See PDF flyer for details.


Mason Williams Special Appearance Northwest Classen High School 50th Reunion

Oklahoma City ~ June 16-18, 2006

Northwest Classen High School graduates of 1956 gathered in Oklahoma for their 50th reunion. The class boasts two celebrities, Mason Williams, and his long-time friend, artist Ed Ruscha, a 2005 inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Williams performed for classmates at the dinner-dance.

An excerpt from Mason about the reunion...

"The 50th anniversary of anything, in human terms anyway, is pretty remarkable! A lot of water under the bridge, soda speak. Music was a big part of our lives back then and collectively we were up on the hit parade. I never thought back in 1956 that I’d have gone on to have a career in music, but as fate would have it, I did.

I ran the Hollywood (the Land of the Desperate and the Arrogant) gauntlet, and after writing songs & making records, writing for & being on television, playing gigs & concerts, art projects & etc, etc, etc, being a composer/song writer is where I seem to have made my mark. So, this EP is a sample of some of my music that relates in some way to our high school days or this class of ’56 reunion."


MASON WILLIAMS' WORK WITH OTHER ARTISTS:

Working with up and coming artists and kindred musical spirits has been a fantastic experience for Mason who shares his own talent and experience, and gains wonderfully diverse inspiration from these artists. We are pleased to add stories about these artists and their projects with Mason on our New Friends on this site

More Mason Williams Music -- His most recent album, Electrical Gas is a collaboration with UK guitarist Zoe McCulloch. This album is an fabulously eclectic collection of Mason's best compositions, polished to perfection and literally electrified! Mason Williams EP 2003: Music for the Epicurean Harkener is an extended play CD that features six new instrumental recordings and received a Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album! Classical Gas: The Music of Mason Williams - Warner Bros. Publications has released an absolutely beautiful second edition of Mason's music book featuring solos, duets and ensembles for guitar, violin & flute. The book includes music & tab and a companion CD prepared specifically for the book. It also features wonderful background and notes on the songs as well as stories about Mason's amazing concert history and biography written by Mason.

As always, Mason's creative work, both writing and art projects, continues. This year has Mason back to the tablet, writing all kinds of political humor, insights and television ideas. While Mason continues to work in the studio and make special appearances, he has no plans to tour in the near future. He has shifted his focus toward publishing and is making his music available to other artists and for industry use. Mason's unique and yet familiar style has found a niche in film and television scores and other artists continue to use his work creatively. Check out Will Smith's new song "Give Me Tonight" for a fantastic meeting of "Classical Gas" and Hip Hop.

More Mason on Film -- "Classical Gas" plays a part in yet another film this year, Cheaper By the Dozen with Steve Martin. It was also used in a recent episode of HBO's smash hit series, The Sopranos. It has also been featured in The Dish, a very worthwhile film about the role of Australia's radio telescope played in television the first lunar landing. The music is well-placed among other significant hits of the era. Another Hollywood Director is taking advantage of the versatility of Mason's music. David Markings film HeartBreakers starring Sigourney Weaver and Gene Hackman, features "Tradewinds." "Classical Gas" has also made an appearance in Rob Reiner's movie, The Story of Us. Mason's music is so well-suited to the big screen that he is now spending time in the studio preparing pieces for use in various films, television and other recording projects.


Website News

In anticipation of the 40th Anniversary of Classical Gas, I will be overhauling the Website with a new look and feel. We are preparing a Mason Williams Retrospective that everyone will enjoy. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us. Our goal is to have an informative, interactive site where you can find out anything anyone would ever need to know about Mason Williams and his interesting and diverse career.

Skookum Records closed it's online store for Mason Williams & Friends products. We regret that we will no longer be able to provide Mason Williams fans with some of the more difficult to find items, but we will be working to set up a few things through alternative outlets and will keep you posted as they become available. Many of the items are currently available on Amazon.com.

To purchase recordings, visit CD Baby, iTunes, or Amazon.