Musician’s debut album – four years after his death
Family completes work started by popular singer
A DEDICATED musician who spent 40 years performing around pubs and clubs in Glasgow is releasing his debut album – four years after his death.
The family of William “Jukebox” Matthews have fulfilled their ambition of finishing the album Willie started recording in 2011, shortly before being diagnosed with cancer.
Money raised from album sales are being dedicated to the hospice in Paisley where Willie spent his final days.
His son Sean, 30, said his dad played across Scotland and abroad, but was best known in “almost every pub in Paisley” where he earned the nickname Jukebox because of his repertoire of 4,000 songs.
He said: “He first dabbled in playing music at 20.
“He sang and played guitar - while his two younger broth- ers Stan and Sandy played the tea chest bass! When his brothers moved overseas he continued playing, and over the next 40 years honed his skills on the guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica.”
Willie, who earned his living performing, penned many original songs and began put- ting them together for an album at Standing Stone Studio in Barrhead in 2011.
Sean said Willie, of Ferguslie Park in Paisley, managed to complete the vocals, despite battling cancer, and chose the ’40 Years of Good Road’ title, which he felt summed up his career perfectly.
Many of the songs have a personal theme, with ‘Willie The Third’ written to celebrate the birth of his grandson William, the third William Matthews of the family. Another features a duet with oldest son William Junior and his daughters provide backing vocals on the Bad DaD’ track.
In another song, Axe-I-Dent, Willie recalls the day he reversed the car over his favourite axe guitar, Sean said.
He added: “He was a passionate man with a big personality.
Willie, who had seven children, died in February 2012, aged 65, and the family are raising money for Accord hospice, in Paisley.
CDs and digital are available from williematthews.bandcamp.com, Apollo Music and The Music Centre in Paisley, iTunes, and many venues.