The World Famous Tony Williams

Antony Williams, better known by his stage name Tony Williams, is an American R&B and soul musician from Oklahoma City. A singer, songwriter and record producer, Williams is perhaps best known for his vocals on his first cousin Kanye West's debut album, The College Dropout (2004) as well as subsequent albums from West.[1] He is currently managed by David Bullock.[2][3]

Tony Williams
Birth nameAntony Williams
Also known asTony "Penafire" Williams
OriginOklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B, gospel
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsVocals, piano
LabelsThe High Society, Uncle Pete's Parade
Associated acts

Early life

Williams grew up an only child in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Both his mother and father had musical backgrounds, and Williams was given his first instrument, a saxophone, at the age of eight. He grew up singing in youth choirs at church and played in the marching band through his tenth grade year of high school. Williams love for music continued throughout his early adulthood as he went on to form several bands that ranged in style from funk, rock, alternative, and Christian alternative, and took on the role as lead vocalist.

Musical career

Songwriter

Williams' name appears on Kanye West's albums as Tony "Penafire" Williams which is the pseudonym he uses when crediting himself as a writer. He was a co-writer of two songs on The College Dropout, the Grammy Award winning 2004 album, following which Williams was invited to write for all of West's subsequent albums.

On the 2005 MTV documentary, Composing History The Making of Late Registration, he was featured producing vocals for Brandy on the song "Bring Me Down", which he co-wrote. During that documentary, West described Williams as being "a great writer with a cutting edge voice."

Singer

Kanye West performing at Coachella festival while backed by Tony Williams, 2006

Tony Williams first became noticed as a singer when he debuted on Kanye West's Grammy winning album The College Dropout, singing a version of the gospel hymn "I'll Fly Away". By the second album, Late Registration, Kanye was giving Williams shout outs on the song, "We Major" which gave rise to the line Kanye fans use in reference to Williams, "I gotta say what’s up to Tony Williams". On that same album Tony wrote the hook for the song, "Roses", which featured him singing with Patti Labelle. This album not only promoted Tony Williams name, but for the first time fans were able to match his voice and name with a face. He was featured on the song and the video for "Drive Slow". Later, he was seen singing with Kanye when West was featured on the MTV television series, Life and Rhymes of Kanye West.

By the time Kanye went on the Touch the Sky Tour, Williams was known as the background singer that always accompanied West, including on several world tours.[4]

Williams is one of a few performers who have performed at two different Inaugural Balls; the Neighborhood Ball where he performed with Jay-Z on the song, History, and the Youth Ball where he performed with Kanye West. His voice is recognized on some popular Hip Hop songs, having performed with, for example, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nas, Game, and Rick Ross.[5]

In March 2010, Williams released his first mainstream project in the form of a mixtape, The World Famous Tony Williams: Finding Dakota Grey which was released with the GOOD Music stamp.[6] This project was a collection of original music, covers, and remixes, including the "Dreaming of your love remix" with the French rapper Matt Moerdock.

In October 2010, Williams released his first single "Everything About You" from his debut studio album, King or the Fool, which was released on February 14, 2012.

The first time Williams experienced artistic autonomy was in 2007 when he made an appearance on Kanye's Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape, singing a song he had written and that that was produced by Kanye, "Dreaming of Your Love". This legitimized him as a featured artist. It was at that time that Williams added "The World Famous" to his name to differentiate himself from the famous drummer with the same name, and because in the vocal sample of the song "Dreaming of Your Love" the intro says, "You're listening to the world famous". Williams has had songs played on Brazilian airwaves, where he sang some of the vocals in Portuguese, and some musical chart success in France.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected information
Title Album details
King or the Fool
  • Released: February 14, 2012[7]
  • Label: The High Society
  • Formats: CD, digital download
To Gain the World
  • Released: TBA
  • Label: The High Society
  • Formats: CD, digital download

EPs

List of extended plays, with year released
Title Album details
The 7th Day
  • Released: July 22, 2017[8]
  • Label: Uncle Pete's Parade
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Album details
Finding Dakota Grey
  • Released: March 2, 2010[9]
  • Label: GOOD Music
  • Format: Digital download
Some of my best rappers are friends
  • Released: January 13, 2012[10]
  • Label: The High Society
  • Format: Digital download

As lead artist

List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Everything About You"[11] 2010 non-album single
"Sleepover"[12] 2012 King or the Fool
"Another You"[13]
(featuring Kanye West)

Album credits

YearAlbumSongCredits
1999Rashani – Positive and Progress
"All Ah Dem"Vocals
"How long"Vocals
"Conspiracy"Vocals
"Mickey Mouse Lovin"Vocals
2004Kanye WestThe College Dropout
"I'll Fly Away"Vocals
"Spaceship"Vocals/Writer
"School Spirit"Vocals
"Lil Jimmy Skit"Vocals
"Last Call"Vocals/Writer
2005Kanye WestLate Registration
Late Registration & The People's Champ"Drive Slow"Vocals
"Crack Music"Vocals
"Roses"Vocals/Writer
"Bring Me Down"Writer/Vocal Producer
"We Major"Vocals/Writer
"Late"Vocals
2007Kanye WestGraduation
"Good Morning"Vocals
"Champion"Vocals/Writer
"Flashing Lights"Vocals
"Everything I Am"Vocals
"Homecoming"Writer
2007ConsequenceDon't Quit Your Day Job!
"Don't Forget Em"Vocals
"Disperse"Vocals
"Who Knew My Luck Would Change?"Vocals
2008Kanye West808s & Heartbreak
"Say You Will"Vocals
"Amazing"Vocals
"RoboCop"Vocals/Writer
"Street Lights"Vocals/Writer
2009More than a Game soundtrack
"History"Vocals/Writer
2009Jay-ZThe Blueprint 3
"A Star Is Born"Vocals
2010Kid SisterUltraviolet (U.K. release)
"Daydreaming"Vocals
2010Rick RossTeflon Don
"Live Fast, Die Young"Vocals
2010Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
"Dark Fantasy"Vocals
"Gorgeous"Vocals
"All of the Lights"Vocals
"Runaway"Vocals
"Hell of a Life"Vocals
"Lost in the World"Vocals
2011OutlawzPerfect Timing
"Remember Me"Vocals
2011PromiseAwakening
"Everyone Knows"Vocals
2013Kanye West – Yeezus
"Blood on the Leaves"Vocals/Writer
2016Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
"Waves"Vocals/Writer
2018Pusha T – Daytona
"Hard Piano"Vocals/Writer
"Santeria"Writer
2018NasNASIR
"Bonjour"Vocals/Writer
2018Teyana TaylorK.T.S.E.
"3Way"Writer

References

  1. "STOLI CHILLS WITH G.O.O.D MUSIC ARTIST TONY WILLIAMS / MP3 / VIDEO". Skopemag.com. January 26, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  2. "SABRINA VAZ-HOLDER TOOK OUR FAVE PIC OF CHANCE: DIGGING THROUGH THE GREATS". Green Label. April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  3. "Tony Williams (@TWFTonyWilliams) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. Shaheem Reid. "Kanye West Made Sure To Touch The Sky At Tour Launch". MTV News. MTV Network. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  5. "Rick Ross – Live Fast Die Young". djbooth.net. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  6. M. Gosho Oakes (March 12, 2010). "FREE Download: The World Famous Tony Williams: Finding Dakota Grey (G.O.O.D Music)". Soul Culture Media. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  7. "King or the Fool by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  8. "G.O.O.D. Music's The World Famous Tony Williams Drops 'The 7th Day' EP Featuring Kanye West". Hypebeat.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  9. "The World Famous Tony Williams – Finding Dakota Grey // Free Mixtape". DatPiff. Idle Media Inc. March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  10. "The World Famous Tony Williams – Some of My Best Rappers Are Friends // Free Mixtape". DatPiff. Idle Media Inc. May 3, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  11. "Everything About You – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  12. "Sleepover – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  13. "Another You – Single by The World Famous Tony Williams – United States". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
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