Musician’s first CD is out ... four years after he died
A MUSICIAN who spent 40 years performing around pubs and clubs in Glasgow is releasing his debut album – four years after his death.
Relatives of William “Jukebox” Matthews have fulfilled their ambition of finishing the album he started recording in 2011, shortly before he was diagnosed with cancer.
Money raised from album sales are going towards to the hospice in Paisley where he spent his final days.
His son Sean, 30, said his father 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 brothers Stan and Sandy played the tea chest bass.
“When his brothers moved overseas he contin- ued playing, and over the next 40 years honed his skills on the guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica.”
Mr Matthews, who earned his living performing, penned many original songs and began putting them together for an album at Standing Stone Studio in Barrhead in 2011.
His son said he managed to complete the vocals, despite battling cancer, and chose the title “40 Years of Good Road”, 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.
His son added: “He was a passionate man with a big personality.
“He loved both his wives dearly, but his first, last, and greatest love was always music, all styles and all eras. Every song on the album provides an insight into his very varied influences across many genres.”
Mr Matthews, who had seven children and lived in Ferguslie Park, Paisley, died in February 2012, aged 65, and the family are raising money for the Accord hospice.
CDs and digital are available from williematt hews.bandcamp.com, Apollo Music and The Music Centre in Paisley, iTunes, and many venues.