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Will Tilson
About
Will Tilson is a Blues/Rock musician based in Chicago Illinois. He got his start learning under Jazz guitar great Cary DeNigris and quickly developed a love for the guitar and Rock n Roll music. By the time he was 12 he was playing in a local band, taking requests on the spot, and covering classics by The Rolling Stones and Otis Redding. Later, Will was introduced to the Blues, playing rhythm guitar with various bandleaders and covering classics by artists that he had never even heard before! Will liked what he was hearing and one night after a gig he went home and bought as many records as he could afford off the Chess Records label. Soon he was playing covers by Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, and Little Walter.
When the Rock House opened in town, Will stopped by to check the place out. Owner Chris Karabas noticed him looking at the vinyl record collection with a guitar strapped on his back and invited him to play a few songs with him. Chris was impressed by Will’s talent and asked him to stop by again the following Friday. Soon, Chris and Will were playing three-hour sets for customers almost every Friday.
“There's a difference between knowing how to play a guitar and knowing how to express your feelings through it. While most young guitarists try to impress you with playing loud and fast, Will understands that sometimes silence is the best note to play.”
- Chris Karabas
Producer/Writer/Manager
Later that year, during an acoustic set, Chris listened to Will sing for the first time and was amazed by his soulful and authentic blues sound. He decided it was time to introduce Will to Producer Ira Antelis. Ira is a composer and music producer who has written and produced songs for a wide array of artists such as Etta James, B.B. King, Marc Anthony, Patti Labelle, Lifehouse, Shawn Colvin, Cheap Trick and many tribute records for the House of Blues. Chris and Ira arranged to take Will to Nashville where he recorded with musicians who have backed such artists as BB King, Willie Nelson, Barbara Streisand, Vince Gill, and many more.
Will plays regularly around the Chicago area and has an EP coming out soon so stay posted!
