Willard Hill

Last updated
Willard Hill
Willard Hill profile.jpg
Background information
Birth nameWillard Hill, III
Also known asWill Hill
Born (1982-06-08) June 8, 1982 (age 42)
Atlanta, Georgia, US
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Genres Hip hop, soul, jazz, R&B
Occupation(s) Rapper, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums/Percussion
Years active2006 – Present
LabelsIndependent
Website www.willardhill.com
Willard Hill at the House of Blues Willard Hill at House of Blues.jpg
Willard Hill at the House of Blues

Willard Hill (born June 8, 1982 in Atlanta, GA) is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer from New Orleans, LA. Hill got his start in song writing and producing working with Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonda after moving to New York City in 2008. He currently lives in Los Angeles and works on music and film compositions.

Contents

Early life

Born in Atlanta, Ga., to parents Manuella Francois Hill and Willard Hill Jr., Hill's family moved back to their hometown of New Orleans in 1985 where he subsequently grew up. Although no members of his immediate family ever pursued careers as recording artists, they were all musically inclined in their own way. His mother sang with Moses Hogan and traveled with his choir, his grandmother sang and directed the Wings Over Jordan Choir and received her master's degree in music from Louisiana State University, [1] [2] and both his father and grandfather sang and played various instruments. At an early age he became interested in music and received piano lessons from his grandmother until she died when he was 8. He continued to play the piano by ear and began playing the alto saxophone in his elementary school band, but lost interest as he got older. [3]

Education

In 1996 Hill attended St. Augustine High School (New Orleans) because of his fascination with their "Marching 100" band, but ventured into varsity sports. Although he earned starting positions on both the track and football teams, he decided to shift his focus to music and turned down collegiate athletic scholarships to attend Howard University to study Jazz Voice and Audio Production. [4]

Music career

Willard Hill on stage at Southpaw in Brooklyn On stage at Southpaw in Brooklyn.jpg
Willard Hill on stage at Southpaw in Brooklyn

While in college he began to perform as a vocalist and made a name for himself on campus. Hill decided to leave Washington, D.C., in 2004 and return home to work and attend Loyola University New Orleans to study Music Business. Subsequently, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita forced him to evacuate to Cleveland, OH. While in Cleveland he was featured on the cover of John Carroll University magazine playing the piano for the school's new president. He performed for the president's inauguration dinner as well as other school functions.

[5]

Later that year he returned to New Orleans in 2006 and began working and writing articles for Nola.com's Music and Culture sections. [6] [7]

Around this time he met rapper and producer William Kendrick (stage name "ill Will the Champ") through a mutual friend, and became interested in rapping. He recorded his first mixtape Ramblin's of an Outer Child, Inner Man, using the instrumental versions of popular songs. After returning to New Orleans, post Hurricane Katrina, Hill sustained an eye injury while playing basketball and required major surgery. He had to move in with his father who had evacuated to Cleveland, OH. His father bought him an Akai MPC 1000 to give him something to do while he recovered and he began making beats in their apartment.

After leaving New Orleans to return to Cleveland, OH he decided to finish his Audio Production degree at Howard University. While in Washington, D.C. he met Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonda at a panel discussion on Haiti and got into an impromptu freestyle session with other students and Jean. Later he told them of his music and plans to move to New York City and they each gave him their phone numbers. After moving to New York, in 2008, he briefly interned at Quad Recording Studios before being hired at Wyclef and Jerry Wonda's "Platinum Sound Studios".

While working for Jean and Wonda he began to slowly make his way into recording sessions and began to write as well as play keyboard and bass, which he picked up from Jerry Wonda. After leaving Platinum Sound Studios in pursuit of more opportunities, he began making his rounds around NYC as a session musician and writer. Around this time he also began freelancing as a Sound Designer and Mix/Recording Engineer for TV and Film. He later became Pro Tools certified in Music to learn how to produce music. [8]

Gemini Mood Swings GMS-Cover.tiff
Gemini Mood Swings

In 2010, he quit his job and decided to focus solely on music. He built a home studio and began working on his concept album Gemini Mood Swings. [9] He also decided to get back to his singing roots by taking vocal lessons with vocal coach Ankh Ra Amenhetep, who was featured on Making The Band 4. After commercially releasing his first single Future Fresh, he began performing around NYC and garnered the attention of several U.S. record labels as well as one European label, but chose to keep sole ownership of his music instead of signing a contract.

His single Future Fresh caught the attention of New Orleans radio mainstay Wild Wayne who put the song in rotation during his live web/radio broadcast 504 Radio on WQUE-FM. [10] In 2012 Hill decided to return to New Orleans to further develop his sound and fully incorporate the city's musical influences into his production style. After a brief period in New Orleans he began to travel once more, landing in Los Angeles, Ca as well as Atlanta, Ga. to work with various artists and producers.

On February 27, 2015 Hill independently released his second project Sketches of Spain Street.

Sketches of Spain Street Sketches of Spain Street.jpg
Sketches of Spain Street

Discography

Albums

Singles

Mixtapes

Personal life

Hill began delving further into music in 1997 after several family tragedies caused him to focus more on his emotional needs. In December 1997 his grandfather died at home while Hill watched as his father tried to resuscitate him. A week later, his father suffered kidney failure and had to receive emergency dialysis. Later that year Hill's mother was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease and needed constant care. Hill's mother passed in 2013. He has one sibling, an older sister.

In 2014, he married filmmaker and producer Quan Lateef. The two were married in Paris, France and their pictures were featured on Glamour.com. [11]

Hill said he uses various forms of art and music to find creative inspiration [12] and is also a multi-instrumentalist. [13] Hill also designs his own cover art, merchandise, and solo show fliers for fun. He says Bob Marley and Quincy Jones are his biggest musical influences. [14]

Related Research Articles

The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagination Movers</span> American childrens band

The Imagination Movers are an American children's band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003.

McKinley Phipps, Jr., better known simply as Mac, is an American rapper from New Orleans' 3rd Ward. He began rapping as a child, releasing his debut album The Lyrical Midget at the age of 13 in 1990, under the stage name Lil Mac. Mac would eventually sign with Master P's No Limit Records and would grow to be one of the most critically acclaimed artists on the label, both as a solo rapper and as a member of the super group 504 Boyz. Mac released two solo albums and one album as part of the 504 Boyz on No Limit, including 1998's Shell Shocked, which peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate</i> American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana

The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ancestral publications of other names date back to January 25, 1837. The current publication is the result of the 2019 acquisition of The Times-Picayune by the New Orleans edition of The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebirth Brass Band</span> American brass band from New Orleans, Louisiana


The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band. The group was founded in 1983 by Phillip "Tuba Phil" Frazier, his brother Keith Frazier, Kermit Ruffins, and classmates from Joseph S. Clark Senior High School, which closed in the spring of 2018, in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. Arhoolie released its first album in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area code 504</span> Telephone area code for New Orleans, Louisiana

Area code 504 is a telephone area code that covers greater New Orleans, Louisiana. Besides New Orleans itself, it includes all of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and most of Jefferson Parish.

<i>The Preachers Son</i> 2003 studio album by Wyclef Jean

The Preacher's Son is the fourth studio album by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released on November 4, 2003. The album, which was co-produced by Jean and long-time collaborator Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis, combines elements of hip hop, reggae and reggae fusion, and uses a number of samples, including the Motown-inspired "Industry", which samples "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted". The album contains guest appearances of the likes of Missy Elliott, Patti LaBelle, Rah Digga and Redman, as well as a guitar feature by Carlos Santana on the song "Three Nights In Rio".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Hartley</span> American football player (born 1986)

Garrett Hartley is an American former professional football placekicker. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Later that year he became the placekicker for the New Orleans Saints, for whom he set an NFL record for most consecutive successful field goals to start a career, and then became the first kicker in NFL history to convert three field goals of more than 40 yards in the Super Bowl. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, beating the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Duplessis</span> Haitian record producer

Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis is a Haitian record producer and musician. His first major success came as the producer of the Fugees' 1996 album The Score. He served as the bass guitarist for the group and is the cousin of Wyclef Jean, with whom he has collaborated on multiple projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voodoo Music + Arts Experience</span> Music and arts festival in Louisiana, US

The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, commonly referred to as Voodoo or Voodoo Fest, was a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. First started in 1999, it was last held in October 2019, after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and canceled in 2022 without explanation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niia</span> American singer (born 1988)

Niia Bertino, known professionally as Niia, is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Nungesser</span> 54th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

William Harold Nungesser is an American politician serving as the 54th lieutenant governor of Louisiana since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, Nungesser is also the former president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission, having been re-elected to a second four-year term in the 2010 general election in which he topped two opponents with more than 71 percent of the vote. His second term as parish president began on January 1, 2011, and ended four years later.

<i>Treme</i> (TV series) American drama television series

Treme is an American drama television series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that aired on HBO. The series premiered on April 11, 2010, and concluded on December 29, 2013, comprising four seasons and 36 episodes. The series features an ensemble cast including Khandi Alexander, Rob Brown, Chris Coy, Kim Dickens, India Ennenga, John Goodman, Michiel Huisman, Melissa Leo, Lucia Micarelli, David Morse, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Jon Seda, and Steve Zahn, as well as musical performances by a number of New Orleans–based artists.

<i>Zeitoun</i> (book) 2009 nonfiction book written by Dave Eggers

Zeitoun is a nonfiction book written by Dave Eggers and published by McSweeney's in 2009. It tells the story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting company in New Orleans, Louisiana, who chose to ride out Hurricane Katrina in his Uptown home.

<i>From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion</i> 2009 studio album by Wyclef Jean

From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion is a concept album released by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released on November 10, 2009. The album, Jean's seventh overall, is a collaboration with disc jockey DJ Drama, which tells the story of the fictional character Toussaint St. Jean, who is based on the 18th century Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture. The album, which was co-produced by Jean and long-term collaborator Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis, contains guest appearances from Timbaland, Eve, Cyndi Lauper and Lil' Kim, and production from The Runners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danziger Bridge shootings</span> 2005 police killings in New Orleans, Louisiana

On the morning of September 4, 2005, six days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), ostensibly responding to a call from an officer under fire, shot and killed two civilians at the Danziger Bridge: 17-year-old James Brissette and 40-year-old Ronald Madison. Four other civilians were wounded. All of the victims were African-American. None were armed or had committed any crime. Madison, a mentally disabled man, was shot in the back. The shootings caused public anger and further eroded the community's trust in the NOPD and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Freedia</span> American rapper (born 1978)

Freddie Ross Jr., better known by his stage name Big Freedia, is an American rapper and performer known for his work in the New Orleans genre of hip hop called bounce music. Freedia has been credited with helping popularize the genre, which had been largely underground since developing in the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Mind (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2012 single by Mary J. Blige

"Don't Mind" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige, recorded for her tenth studio album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (2011). It was written by Blige along with Priscilla Renea and Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis, while production helmed by the latter. The song was released by Matriarch Records and Geffen Records as the album's fourth and final single on June 19, 2012 in the United States, where it reached number 35 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Rainwater</span> American politician

Paul W. Rainwater is an American former local and state government official from Louisiana who served as an aide to Governor Bobby Jindal and played a prominent role in Louisiana during its recovery from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike and the recovery of the state from the 2010 British Petroleum Oil Spill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arden Altino</span> Musical artist

Arden Altino is an American musician and music producer. Known in the industry as "Keyz", Altino produced numerous records for a wide range of artists such as "Hold On" for Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish, and "OUT OF MY HEAD" by Lupe Fiasco Featuring Trey Songz. He collaborated with Parisian artists such as Passi and Jocelyne Labylle on several records while adding to his roster of artists, Mary J. Blige, Justin Bieber, Estelle, and P. Diddy. Altino co-produces now with Jerry Wonda out of Platinum Sounds Recording Studio in New York City.

References

  1. ↑ Jim McNally. "Teacher's Master Work for Sharing Her Love of Music". Mooresville Tribune | Music. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  2. ↑ New Orleans Volunteer Association. "H Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana". H Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana | Obituaries. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  3. ↑ New Orleans Hip-Hop/Soul (Video). New York City, NY: Too Qute Productions, LLC. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2 March 2012.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ↑ Megan Braden-Perry. "10 Questions with Willard Hill: A Future Fresh Breath of Fresh Air to the Music Scene". InvadeNola.com | Music. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Michele Brown. "Just Passing Through; One Student's Story". John Carroll Magazine | Fall 2005. John Carroll Magazine. p. 10. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Willard Hill, III. "Singing Sisters Gain National Recognition". Nola.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Hill, Willard. "My Super Sunday". Nola.com. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Sheba Turk. "The 504: Sketches of Spain Street". WWLTV.com | Music. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Drenna Armstrong. "Introducing: Willard Hill". MadameNoire.com | Music. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Corey Takahashi. "504 Radio Reconnects Big Easy's Musicians, Fans". NPR.org. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  11. ↑ Kim Fusaro. "Warning: This Couple's Parisian Wedding Pictures Will Definitely Make You Want to Elope". Glamour.com | Weddings. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  12. ↑ To Be Limitless (Video). New York City, NY: Too Qute Productions, LLC. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2 March 2012.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  13. ↑ Whitney Summer. "The Cool Stamp". TheCoolStamp.com | Music. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  14. ↑ Yvette Caslin. "Meet New Orleans Hip-Hop Soul Artist Willard Hill". RollingOut.com | Music. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.