J.P. was born blind in his right eye, and then at the tender age of ten, glaucoma in his left eye took his sight completely. After a few years of adjustment as well as out right frustration John began to look for something to hold on to and call his own. He turned to his love of music and began to teach himself to play guitar. JP had found an outlet of expression that changed his life forever. After graduating from the Tennessee School for the Blind, JP starting playing with local bands while attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he received a B.A. in music. Subsequent to receiving his degree he started looking for the next step to take in his career. It was this search that ultimately took J.P. to Nashville. JP is now an active part of the music landscape in Music City and is considered by many critics as one the best emerging artists in the Southeast. Web Site: http://jpwilliams.net

Photo: The Basement, Nashville

Festival and concert appearances have allowed JP to share bills with Bruce Hornsby, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Charlie Daniels, CCR and Ricky Skaggs.

END NOTE: I got this email from Fran Snyder introducing me to J.P. Williams

Hi Gary, I discovered your interest in disability music online, and I wanted to introduce you to a song, and a friend of mine, J.P. Williams.

The song is called "Faster than Me", which you can hear off the front page of my website, http://fransnyder.com - it's track number 6.
It re-tells the powerful story of a Special Olympics race, where the lead runner fell, and all the other runners stopped to help him back
up. Then they all held hands and ran to the finish line together.

I wrote that song with J.P. Williams, a very talented singer- songwriter who happens to be completely blind. I think you'd really
enjoy his perspective, and his incredible gift and voice. You'll find him at http://jpwilliams.net

Enjoy the music and be well. -fran snyder - Many thanks Fran, Gary