Leona Williams - That Williams Girl, Leona
In this week's episode we're featuring the debut album from Missouri's Leona Williams: "That Williams Girl, Leona" (1970). As a young woman in St. Louis working as a beautician by day and playing music several nights a week on the side, connections that Leona Williams made during that time would serve her young career well. A friendship with Loretta Lynn saw Leona move to Nashville and join Loretta's first band "The Blue Kentuckians" and a former bandmate who landed an Opry role helped her to get her first recording session. Leona's traditional-edged style got the attention of industry heavyweight Wesley Rose, and she was signed to Hickory Records in 1967. Rose deliberately helped set her up for a lifetime in country music, and that's exactly how it panned out for this modest gal from The Show Me State. Leona herself will say "she's just as plain as an old shoe" (an expression her mother liked to use), but hopefully the music featured in this week's show will serve to convince you that Leona Williams' 50+ year in country music is testament to an entertainer who had the charisma, talent and drive to deserve it.