#josephwilliams

Toto’s Joseph Williams Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Hold the line! What a way to reenter this arena - with arena rockstar Joseph Williams of Toto! I had the best time - can’t stop smiling. Joseph could not have been more accessible, personable, humble, willing, thoughtful, informative… entertaining, and warm––like a fuzzy blanket on a cool summer night. Just loved every minute. 

I watched quite a few interviews with Joseph to get to know him a bit before sitting down with him. All that I saw were centered around the music of Toto and Joseph’s solo work––the songs, the musicians, the concerts. Fascinating!  I wanted to know about the kid, the son, the man, the artist, the vocalist, the composer, who thrived, who struggled, who acted out, who cleaned up, and that’s exactly what generous Joseph gave us, no holds barred, no lines held, as it were. From his earliest days with his dad, John Williams, making genius in the other room, his actress-singer mother, Barbara Ruick, turning life into songs, he and his siblings performing on cue for their parents’ esteemed party guests, and forming their first band, together, picking up his first drink, finding mischief, getting busted, breaking bones, boarding school leading to his first gig… jingles, Vegas, Star Search - one story better than the last - to auditioning for Toto - how he got it, what it meant - how he lost it - what he did to ensure that it would never happen again - composing, scoring- working with a guy named Snuffy, guesting with Toto and Bobby Kimball, rejoining the band in 2010, now he and Lukather the two remaining old guard… full circle - still touring - and miraculously still a Novid! 

I easily could have chatted with Joseph for hours more. Can’t wait till September to see Toto at The Hollywood Bowl and to celebrate Joseph’s 64th birthday. He’s sober, a grandpa, a good son, making great music, and living his dream. He’s honored his legacy. Bravo! Standing O! 

Joseph Williams Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, June 5, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET 

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

Today LIVE, Emmy-nominated composer, solo recording artist,  and lead vocalist of TOTO too, Joseph Williams!  With ten solo albums to his credit, he’s a session vocalist which garnered him the role of adult Sumba in Disney’s The Lion King, where he’s featured on Hakuna Matata, and Can You Feel The Love Tonight, the lead singer with Toto and has been since 2010 as well as in the mid to late 80s, Joseph is also the son of iconic composer John Williams. Joseph has scored films, TV shows, and written main titles, including the Emmy-nominated Miracles, with a guy named Snuffy, as well as written songs for films such as  Return of the Jedi, The Goonies, and Accidental Tourist, to name but a few.