Lamar Williams

Williams was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in nearby Handsboro, Mississippi.[1] He also spent time in Newton, Mississippi.[2] A self-taught musician, he was attracted to the bass lines in songs and so sought to master that instrument.[2] Beginning at age 14 he played with Deep South, a gospel music group that his father sang with.[2]

Around 1965, he met drummer Jai Johanny Johanson (later to be known as Jaimoe) in high school and began played in bands with him.[2] They played in a number of groups along the Gulf Coast, the most known of which was George Woods’ Sounds of Soul[1] with whom Williams played from 1965 to 1967.[2] Williams was influenced by bassists from James Jamerson in R&B to Stanley Clarke in jazz,[2] and in turn Williams’ R&B playing helped Jaimoe gain a better understanding of how to play the bass drum and where to place the beat