Willis Hickerson Bill Withers Tribute
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Craft cocktails and small plates begin at 6:00 pm.
Middle C Jazz has General Admission seating available on a first-come basis. We also offer preferred seating for our Baby Grand members.
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Willis Hickerson is a Grammy-nominated, Stellar Award-winning musician and producer. The son of an accomplished jazz/bebop saxophonist and a phenomenal alto Gospel singer, Willis grew up in a house filled with all styles of music. Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Blues, Classical, and early Rock and Roll all filled the air on a daily basis. As his father moved from the stage to the pulpit, Willis began playing drums, piano, and conducting choirs at his father’s church at the age of eight. He has since dedicated his life to the art of music.
Willis has been blessed to work with such international artists as Patti LaBelle, Earth, Wind and Fire, Melba Moore, Narada Michael Walden, Lecresia Campbell, Dorothy Norwood, Shirley Caesar, Darryl Coley, Yolanda Adams, The San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra, and Edwin Hawkins just to name a few.
Willis has appeared on several nationally syndicated television shows, including The Bobby Jones Gospel Show, The Stellar Gospel Music Awards, and Singsation, hosted by Vicki Winans. Willis has performed on stages from Harlem’s Apollo Theater to the Great Cathedral of Germany. From the National Blues Festival in Portugal to the Gospel Festival in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. And Willis has appeared with internationally known artists on the stage of the Bay Area’s renowned Yoshi’s Jazz Club. But perhaps Willis’ most loved venue is the many local churches across the United States where he has been blessed to play.
Willis has served as Musical Director for the Grammy Nominated, Stellar Award-winning Rev. Ernest Davis, Jr.’s Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Swarthmore College Upward Bound Program, Merck & Co. Black History Program, Philadelphia Sunoco Welcome America Great Gospel Gathering, and Westminster Choir College of Princeton New Jersey.
Willis is proud to be the Executive Director of Worship and Arts for The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Willis is pleased to have released his Grammy Nominated jazz instrumental recording “Soul Searching”, and to have published his first book entitled “I’m Not a Therapist, I’m Just a Guy!”