NEWS 2005

23/12/05 - News from Frontiers Records

Former TOTO singer Joseph Williams – also featured on vocals on the forthcoming TOTO single “Bottom of Your Soul” -  is currently busy recording the vocals of the second VERTIGO album. The songs which will be included on the record include in no particular order: “Not Gonna Live Forever” (written by Joseph together with Joey Carbone), “Save It All Alone”, “All For You”, “Goodbye – So Long”, “Part of Me”, “In The Blink of An Eye”, “There’s A Reason”, “Picking Up The Pieces”, “Hold Me”.

This time the lineup includes drummer extraordinaire Virgil Donati (SOUL SIRKUS, RING OF FIRE) and guitar virtuoso Alex Masi, with Fabrizio Grossi handling again bass and production duties.

The album is scheduled for release in mid 2006.

18/12/05 - George Grunwald 'So much to say'

George Grunwald has a diverse background. Born in Poland, raised in Sweden, based in Spain. His music travelled to far-off places such as Israel and America. George lived in San Diego and New York for 6 years, where he worked as a session musician, singer, musician, producer, composer, artist.
His new album is called "So much to say". Prior to that he recorded four albums. All songs were written and composed together with the famous Swedish musician and composer Hakan Mjornheim.
Musicians featuring on "So much to say" are: Lou Pardini,
Warren Wiebe, David Garfield, Jason Scheff, Joseph Williams (on With every breath), Bill Champlin, Alex Lighterwood, Eric Marienthal, Mark Leadford, Oli Poulsen and Hakan Mjornheim. George Grunwald plays guitars, keyboards and sings all lead vocals.

Tracklist:
1 So much to say
2 With every breath
3 Don't give it up
4 Touch the sun
5 Save my love
6 You know
7 Mystery girl

Thanks to Westcoast Rendez vous

09/12/05 - News from Joseph

- Toto's new album release date in the whole of Europe and Australia has been set on February the 10th 2006. The album release will be anticipated during January 2006 by the launch on all radios of the single “Bottom Of Your Soul” a duet song with Joseph and Steve Lukather.

- Vertigo 2 is finished. It will be released early 2006.

- Joseph takes part in the new album of Ritchie Zito (Frontiers). He sings on the song 'Oh Samantha'.


Joseph, Ritchie and Joey
 
Ritchie, Joseph and Joey

 

- On the website www.melodicrock.com and for 35 dollars, You can download these tracks :
Dream Come True (demo + instrumental + different mix)
Midnight Celebration (demo + instrumental + different mix)
This Time Around Oh Jamaica (demo + different mix)
Something Special (demo + different mix)
One More Chance
Fear
I Can Feel It
That First Night (instrumental demo)

15/11/05 - New picture from Joseph

Will Minting and Joseph at Joseph's studios during his trip to L.A.in early October. The totality of the pictures are on the toto's official forum.

Thanks to Will !

29/10/05 - Don't you know ... ?

There are 2 compilations of Toto 'Best Ballads' (with joseph) available since 10 years (01/95). To note acoustics versions on the first one and one less track on the second. Different tracklisting and different covers.


1 I'll Be Over you
2 Without Your Love
3 Mushanga
4 99 (acoustic)
5 Mama
6 A Thousand Years
7 Takin' It Back
8 I Won't Hold You Back now (acoustic)
9 Anna
10 Georgy Porgy (acoustic)
11 Lea
12 It's a Feeling
13 Africa
14 Angela
15 Only You
16 Out Of Love
17
2 Hearts
18 How Does It Feel


1 A Secret Love
2 I'll Be Over you
3 Africa
4 99
5 Mama
6 Somewhere Tonight
7 Takin' It Back
8 I Won't Hold You Back now
9 Anna
10 Georgy Porgy
11 Lea
12 It's a Feeling
13 Rosanna
14 Angela
15 Only You
16 Out Of Love
17
2 Hearts

11/10/05 - News from Peter Friedtest about the new album with Joseph

Peter has been busy in LA. working on a new CD at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, LA. The new record features Joseph Williams, Bill Champlin, Lou Pardini, Randy Goodrum, Abraham Laboriel and J.R Robinson. Joseph is singin' on the Tracks 'I'll Be There' co-written with Bill Champlin and 'Cheyanne' co-written with Randy Goodrum. The CD is scheduled for release in 2006.


Tamara Champlin, Joseph and Bill Champlin

http://www.peterfriestedt.com/

20/09/05 - Some news from Joseph :

Just a quick note to tell you that yesterday I spent about 4 1/2 hours recording vocals for TOTO!!!! And boy was it fun!The song I worked on is brilliant. It's a "very Dave" composition with an amazing groove and ......Well that's all I will say....Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.Suffice it to say that it's a real and rare privilege to appear on this one. The session was fantastic....Lots of laughs, lots of ideas and virtually no stress. Just a hang with family. Anyway, I can't wait for everyone to hear it....Very exciting for me!
Smiles...

JSW

14/09/05 - Don't you know ... ?

The track ' Cool Night' of the album ' I Am Alive' is a cover of Paul Davis. This track goes back to 1981.

11/09/05 - Steve Lukather's Exlusive Interview

...
Question 7 : As far as Joseph Williams is concerned, can you give your felling about him? After several years, what do you think about  the 'Fahrenheit' and 'The Seventh One' albums? Have you any anecdote? Do you knows his solo albums and especially the last one 'Vertigo'? How happened the recording sessions to your duet with Joe?

I look back VERY fondly at both of the "Joe" records. They are amongst our finest. We ALL went thru alot of shit back then but its all good now and we are all happy doin what we are doin. Joe is an awesome musician and singer. We are very honored he said yes to joining us on a track for this new record. It will be classic Joe-Toto. Great tune. We are cuting it next WED (09/14/05) I believe.

Question 8 : When "TOTO XX" was released in 1998, the band played a few promotional shows with Joseph,Bobby and Steve P,and then, Bobby joined the band again;did the other members of TOTO also think to ask Joseph at the same time?

Well, hard to say. It was so powerful with Bobby, and as he was the ORIGINAL singer for the band when we heard him sing all the classics it just was obvious we had to have him back! I think even Joe felt that BUT I love Joe and like I said, ya never know what could happen. Maybe someday we will bring him out with us again , he AND Bobby. That would be a trip! Maybe the 30th anniversary with Steve P. as well. That would be fun!

ALL THE INTERVIEW ...

02/09/09 - News From Steve Lukather about the duet with Joseph

Before heading off to New York Steve Lukather took time to tell us some more about the upcoming duet with Joseph :
We have not done the tune yet. Finishing Lyrics. The song title is "Bottom of your soul" written by the band, a lot of Paich and Me in there but a group effort.
Beautiful world groove with a fantastic melodic vibe. There will be A LOT of vocals on this one but we want to feature Joe. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks depending on his schedule and ours .
We leave for NYC tomorrow, doing some east coast dates , back on MON and
then not leaving till this fucker is DONE!"

01/09/05 - Happy Birthday Joseph !

Today Joseph turned 45. Happy Birthday Joseph !

20/08/05 - News from Bobby Kimball about the duet with Luke and Joseph

- We just got in a message from TOTO singer Bobby Kimball : "I think Joseph is coming in next week to do some vocals with us. We're all excited about that. He's a great singer and a very good friend. I'm sure he'll add just what we need."

08/08/05 - Joseph Williams to appear on new Toto album "Falling In Between"

- Luke confirmed on Sunday in the www.toto99.com Chat room that Joseph Williams will be performing a duet on the new record with Luke. According to Luke, "The track is perfect for Joe. It's a very Seventh One-era sound, of course modernized. We're really happy with the way it turned out."
Luke also said that the band is now on the "downhill stretch" of the recording process, and they should be finished recording in a month or so.

29/07/05 - News from the Vertigo album

The tracks are finished, Joseph will record his vocals with Joey in the middle of August. The CD is always planned for the end of the year.

05/06/05 - News from Joseph

- Joseph will continue recording vocals for the upcoming Vertigo album in july. In meantime he did some backing vocals for a new Japanese movie, with famous guests: on picture 1 (on the left of Joseph), Yoshi Sahashi and David Jenkins (singer and guitarist of Pablo Cruise), and on picture 2 (on the right of Joey), Luis Conte and Yoshi Sahashi who is the composer and producer for the soundtrack project and who is also a famous guitarist/artist in japan.


picture 1
   
picture 2

- Joseph to appear on the new Chicago album. He will sing a tune that was written by Jason Scheff.

- In an interview with www.melodicrock.com Steve Lukather said that he wanted Joseph to appear on his new TOTO album.

- My friend Henk Jan Paalman from www.josephwilliams.tk , join me to work on the English part of the website. Thank you and welcome to you.

01/05/05 - Republishes of 'Fahrenheit' et 'The Seventh One'

Sony Japan republishes the 2 famous albums of Toto' Fahrenheit' and ' The Seventh One' in ' Replica Lp' .format. The others albums of Toto are also available in this collection. (At this date : Toto, Hydra, Turn Back, IV, Isolation, Fahrenheit and The Seventh One)

   

10/04/05 - Radio California 101 on the web

California-101 is the only West Coast radio on the Internet. The Eagles, Toto, Linda Ronstadt, The Doobies, The Doors, Christopher Cross, not to mention Huey Lewis and The News and The Beach Boys...noone's missing!
The name of California-101 was inspired by the Freeway 101, which descibes one of the most famous Highway in Los Angeles (Ventura County), also sung by the great Band America!
California-101 is the place where you can listen to Californian tunes 24/7. The Station also provides you with a great selection of Californian CDs for all of you who'd like to start (or grow) a West Coast pile of records...along with photos and posters of our beloved Golden State, and books to get some information, mostly if you intend to prepare a short or long stay up there. Feel free to surf the FM 101 shop and help us stay online.
Let's share the "Californian Spirit" together...Let's turn our lives into a Californian dream.
That's what California-101 is made for.

23/03/05 - News of the next VERTIGO

The work of the next VERTIGO advances, the musics are ready and Joseph will be in studio for recorded the voices at the beginning of April 2005 (close to Universal Studios, Hollywood). The album will include 11 tracks including 1 writing by Joseph and Joey Carbone: ' Not Gonna Live Forever'. VERTIGO 2 should be release after the summer.

18/03/05 - Mailling list 'Yahoo'

There is now a mailing list on Joseph to the following address: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/JosephWilliams/.
It's our Kristina friend who is the administrator.

13/02/05 - Tommy Funderburk new album

Tommy Funderburk has been one of the most hired background singers in the history of rock! He had recording sessions with artists such as Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Boston, Yes, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Coverdale/Page, Jon Anderson and many others...
In 1980 he met David Foster and Jay Graydon who were looking for a singer for their project Airplay. Funderburk joined Airplay as their lead singer. The rest is history... Tommy's career as a session singer and songwriter had started.
In 1984 he formed The Front with drummer Bob Wilson and recorded an album that was followed by a U.S and a European tour.
In 1986 you could hear him sing a track called "Never too late to start" on the movie soundtrack "Running Scared". Funderburk also participated on a collection album called "Voices" featuring some great singers including Funderburk, Bob Carlisle, John Elefante among others.
In 1987 Wilson and Funderburk reformed a band together and brought in Larry Williams on keyboards and saxophone, changing the name to What If and releasing an album on RCA. In 1994 he met Bruce Gaitsch at a recording session with Richard Marx and they wrote a song together. That was the start of King of Hearts whose debut album was released only in Sweden, Japan and Germany. In the same year Tommy sang lead vocals on the fourth Boston album "Walk On".
In 1996 Tommy Funderburk and Bruce Gaitsch recorded a follow-up to the first King of Hearts album called "Joy Will Come", released during the Autumn 1996 in Sweden, Germany and Japan. However, after this release Tommy and Bruce moved on to other things.
In June 1998, Pony Canyon (Japan) released an acapella album featuring Tommy Funderburk, Joseph Williams, Bobby Kimball and Jason Scheff (Chicago). The album contains acapella covers of hits from the seventies, for example "Stairway to Heaven", "I Shot the Sheriff", "What's goin' on" and "Sir Duke".

 

In 2004 he started to work on his first solo album recorded under the guidance of Fabrizio Grossi (Glenn Hughes, House of Lords, Vertigo etc.). Aptly titled "Anything For You" it features several songs co-written by Tommy with the likes of Michael Thompson, Bruce Gaitsch and Greg Mathieson which are a delight for all lovers of classic melodic rock and AOR in the style of Toto, Richard Marx and King of Hearts.

10/01/05 - Alan Gorrie 'Sleepless nights' reissue

Alan Gorrie "Sleepless Nights" album is reissued in United Kingdom this week on River Records. Originally recorded in 1985 and out on A&M Records, this is a tremendous Blue-eyed Soul/Funk/Jazz Album from the Bassist, Guitarist, Writer and Singer in the Average White Band. Alan Gorrie "Sleepless Nights" is a classic AOR-Adult Contemporary album that features a lot of talented members : Alan Gorrie - Bass, Guitar, Vocals; Dann Huff - Guitar; Larry WIlliams - Keyboards; Saxophone; Gary Chang - Fairlight; Paulinho Dacosta - Percussion; Jay Gruska - Vocals; Keyboards; Alex Legertwood - Vocals; Joseph Williams - Vocals, Nathan East - Bass; John Robinson- Drums; Michael Landau - Guitar; Michael Boddiker - Synth; Jai Winding - Acoustic Piano; Joe Pizzulo - Vocals; Ernie Watts - Saxophone; Jerry Hey - Trumpet; Gary Grant - Trumpet; Jeff Bova - Keyboards; Steve Tavaglione - Steinerphone; Michael Mugrage - Guitar; Randy Kerber - Piano & Synth.

1. Up
2. Electric Between Us
3. Diary Of A Fool
4. That Kinda Girl
5. I Can Take It
6. The Girl Upstairs
7. Sleepless Nights
8. The Age Of Steam
9. In The Jungle

Discography/Participations page (letter G).

01/01/05 - Best Wishes 2005

Happy new year to all fans of Joseph and Toto and much of thoughts to the South Asia peoples.



RETURN NEWS 2006
NEWS 2004
NEWS 2003