Former Motown bluesman Andre Williams has emerged from a 12-round bout of hard living with a smile on his face.

He’s achieved success as a classic soul songwriter, trailblazing P-Funkster and singular performer with his talk/singing style. He’s also weathered a level of addiction and homelessness that would have killed most others long ago.

As a writer, Williams is the undisputed champ of the food and animal related double entendre. With greasy, grimy soul songs like “Bacon Fat,” “Chicken Thighs” and “Sweet Little Pussy Cat,” Williams could probably find a way to sexualize graham crackers.

I reached Williams on the phone yesterday in his Chicago home. Now in his seventies, he sounded sharp and razor-witted.

RC: I hear you’re also a country music fan.
AW: It’s what I grew my teeth on. I was raised in Alabama and . We we weren’t allowed to listen to any rock and roll or rhythm and blues. The boss’ music was it, and he played Hank Snow and country western songs.
RC: How did you feel when Blues Brothers popularized your song, “Shake a Tail Feather”?
AW: I felt great but I didn’t get paid much. The song was originally “Shake Your Ass” but we knew it wouldn’t get played. I wrote it pretty quickly. The repetition in the middle was the hook line and that’s something I had been doing down South in my younger days.
RC: Why did you go with the talk/singing style early on?
AW: Because I couldn’t sing - it’s just that simple. I knew I could dance. Dancing was in, so I decided to talk and dance. It worked out well.
RC: What was it like working with Funkadelic?
AW: We recorded together when they first started in Detroit. They were different. That’s the best I can put it: different. That’s why they were able to last so long.
RC: Did they influence your music or style?
AW: No, they got their influence from me, really. I was doing it before them.
RC: Who have been your favorite people to work with?
AW: It would have to be Tina Turner and the male artist, B.B. King.
RC: You knew Ike Turner pretty well. How would you describe him?
AW: As a genius. I believe if he wasn’t on drugs, he’d be bigger than Quincy Jones. His originality and raw grit was second to none. He didn’t copy off nobody.

Twangfest
Asylum Street Spankers, Andre Williams, Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles and Jon Hardy & The Public
8 pm Friday, Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/68691228
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