The Jeanette Williams Band is proud to be a member of the Bell Buckle Records family. Performing a mixture of original, traditional, contemporary and gospel bluegrass, with an occasional classic country tune thrown in, they offer a variety of music sure to please any audience. Based in Danville, Virginia, they tour the United States, Canada and Europe. The band is currently in the process of recording a new album to be released later this year. One of the songs features Jeanette and the legendary George Jones on a duet written by Tom T and Dixie Hall.

Jeanette Williams lead vocalist and bass player, began her singing career with a local country band performing at amateur recreations of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1989, she met Johnny Williams and joined his band Clearwater, which has evolved into the Jeanette Williams Band. In 1991 Johnny and Jeanette decided to become partners in life as well as in music. They were married in that year, and they continue to share leadership of the band. A 2005 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, Jeanette has been the recipient of a number of awards including being named the Virginia Folk Music Association’s State Champion Female Vocalist, PICABO Entertainer of the Year (4 times), and PICABO Female Vocalist (4 times). She has garnered five nominations for SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year. A notable highlight for her was being invited to perform with The Dan Tyminski Band on the 2000 IBMA Awards Show. Jeanette has been featured in both Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Now Magazine. She has recorded 11 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, “Cherry Blossoms In The Springtime”, which spent 9 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey Album Chart. Her most recent contribution is on the Daughters of Bluegrass new album Back to the Well released this year. She is a member of Harmony United Methodist Church where she and Johnny attend when they are not on the road. She enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family, and “Spike”, the 4 year old Pomeranian who serves as the band mascot.

Johnny, a 2006 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, plays guitar, shares vocal and emcee duties, and writes most of the band’s original material. An award winning singer and songwriter, he has been named Virginia State Champion Male Vocalist, PICABO Male Vocalist (twice), and PICABO Songwriter of the Year. He was the bluegrass division winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 1998 & 1999. He penned three of the four songs that the band recorded for Bell Witch, The Movie soundtrack. His songs have also been recorded by Rambler's Choice, New Classic Grass, Larry Stephenson, and Special Consensus. His 2004 solo release on Bell Buckle Records titled 1-800-LONESOME includes five original compositions. He was featured in Bluegrass Now Magazine in the July 2004 “State of the Union" column. Johnny was President of the Dan River Region Bluegrass Association for 5 years, and produces many local music events. When he’s not on the road, Johnny enjoys hunting, Sunday dinner at his Mom’s, and visiting with his son, Cullen, and daughter, Cassie.

Chase Johner, from Chilhowie, VA, joined the JWB in March 2006 on mandolin and vocals. Chase proudly plays a Henderson mandolin, which he recently received for his 18th birthday. Although guitar was his first instrument, he picked up the mandolin four years ago, and has quickly mastered the instrument. A past recipient of the Wayne C. Henderson Scholarship, he was recently named Best All Around Musician at the 2006 East Tennessee Young Performers Championship, with first place honors in the mandolin and vocal categories. He spent a year performing at the Highlands Country Venue at Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, VA, where he still attends. He is a former member of the South Carolina based gospel group Solid Ground, he is featured on their 2005 recording “The Right Road”. One of his most memorable gigs with Solid Ground was a performance at the White House. An avid fisherman, Chase says that his main hobby is picking!

We are pleased to welcome Jody King on banjo. With over 20 years experience, Jody is a veteran songwriter, performer and instructor. A brilliant instrumentalist, he is comfortable with any instrument he picks up. He started his musical career in a band with his family while in his early teens. Through the years he has played with top notch bands, such as Lost & Found, After 5, New Vintage, Savannah Road, and most recently Melonie Cannon and Tennessee Road. Jody makes his home in VA with his wife, Kristi, and their two children, Kayla and Jake.

Startpage US-bands