Singer, songwriter, film composer, Toto member and more…
Joseph Williams was lead vocalist with Toto during the mid-to-late 1980s and was featured on the albums Fahrenheit (1986) and The Seventh One (1988) before leaving due to personal problems. He can also be heard on the album Toto XX (1998), a compilation of rare and unreleased tracks. He is featured on Toto’s last album, Falling in Between, sharing lead vocals with Steve Lukather on Bottom of Your Soul. In addition to his guest spot on the last Toto album, Williams was a guest singer at several Toto concerts.
Since 2010, Joseph is once again Toto’s lead singer. He re-joined the band during their reformation tour and has toured with them since then.
Williams released his first, self-titled solo album in 1982. After his tenure with Toto he has released several more. Many of Toto’s members have contributed to his solo work over the years. In 2003 he released an album called Vertigo, a project he initiated, but where he was not in full charge of the production, only recording and supplying the vocals. The second Vertigo album, “Vertigo 2”, was released in 2006. Williams released an album of cover songs from renowned artists such as Elton John, Bryan Adams, Diane Warren, and Kevin Cronin in 2006, called Two of Us, featuring piano and voice only. He returned with two more voice & piano albums in 2007, Smiles and Tears, also consisting of classic hits by popular artists. His latest solo album containing original songs, This Fall, was released in November 2008.
Joseph Williams has also been busy as a composer of film and drama scores, most notably for episodes of the science fiction series “Roswell”, and “The Lyon’s Den” starring Rob Lowe. In 2003 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Main Title Theme Music” for the TV series Miracles. The music to the CBS miniseries Category 7: The End of the World and the TV film Momentum were composed by him. He was the writer of the original English lyrics for the song Lapti Nek and the Ewok Celebration from the original 1983 release of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, which was scored and conducted by his father John Williams. He also composed the Max Rebo Band source cues and an unknown source cue for the same film.
Williams has been in demand as a session vocalist and can be heard on numerous projects by other artists, as well as on movie soundtracks. He provided backing vocals on Peter Cetera’s album World Falling Down and co-wrote the song “Man In Me”, lead vocals for three tracks – “Walk The Wire”, “History” and “When You Look In My Eyes” – to Jay Graydon’s Airplay for the Planet album, subsequently touring with the band and backing vocals on Jon Anderson’s In the City of Angels in 1988, most prominently on the song “Top of the World (The Glass Bead Game)”.
In Disney’s animated feature film The Lion King he can be heard as the singing voice of the Adult Simba, singing on the songs “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”. He reprised this singing role in the direct-to-video animated film Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.
In 1997 and 1998 respectively, he shared vocal duties on two albums by the a cappella covers group The West Coast All Stars, the other vocalists being Bobby Kimball, Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff, whereas Tommy Funderburk replaced Champlin on the Naturally album.
He sings background vocals on Chicago’s “King of Might Have Been” on the 2006 album XXX as well as on “Let’s Take a Lifetime” on the 1993-recorded/2008-released album Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus. The song “What You’re Missing” from the Chicago album Chicago 16 was co-written by him. He also sings backing vocals on five tracks of Steve Lukather’s solo album Ever Changing Times as well as on Lukather’s solo album All’s Well That Ends Well.
Discography
Carrie
Black Lodge Records 2023
Tracks: Carrie, Fly Away Now, The Last Unbroken Heart, Carry On (Demo), Time Never Stops & Pamela (Live).
Musicians on the Carrie album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Wiiliams, Peter Friestedt, Jason Scheff, Tomi Malm, Eirik-Andre Rydningen, Lars Säfsund, Tamara Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Janne Peltoniemi, John 'JR' Robinson, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Per Mathisen & Anders Öjebo.
CWF
Black Lodge Records 2021
Tracks: Runaway, Nightfly, Aria, Two Hearts At War, Still Around, Rivers Of Fear, All That I Want, After The Love Has Gone, Carry On, Evermore, Aria (2021), Runaway (Live) & Nightfly (Live).
Musicians on the CWF album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, Tamara Champlin, Will Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Ingmar Åberg, Lars Säfsund, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Jon-Willy Rydningen, Eirik-André Rydningen, Lars-Erik Dahle, Janne Peltoniemi, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Jonas Wall, Andreas Andersson, Jonas Lindeborg, Ove Andersson & Johan Franzon.
Champlin Williams Friestedt
Sony Music 2021
Tracks: Runaway, Aria, Still Around, All That I Want, Carry On, Nightfly, After The Love Has Gone, Two Hearts At War, Rivers Of Fear, Evermore, Lavender Moon (Bonus Track), Ocean Drive (Bonus Track), Aria (Bonus Track), Where To Touch You (Bonus Track), Cheyenne (Bonus Track) & The Best Day Of The Year (Bonus Track).
Musicians on the CWF album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, Tamara Champlin, Will Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Ingmar Åberg, Lars Säfsund, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Jon-Willy Rydningen, Eirik-André Rydningen, Lars-Erik Dahle, Janne Peltoniemi, Lou Pardini, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Jonas Wall, Andreas Andersson, Jonas Lindeborg, Abraham Laboriel, John 'JR' Robinson, Wojtec Goral & Magnus Johansson.
Denizen Tenant
Mascot Label Group 2021
Tracks: Never Saw You Coming, Liberty Man, Denizen Tenant, Wilma Fingadoux, Black Dahlia, Don't Give Up, The Dream, Remember Her, No Lessons, Mistress Winter's Jump, If I Fell & World Broken.
Musicians to the Denizen Tenant album: Joseph Williams, Lenny Castro, Michael Landau, Oscar Bugarin, Simon Phillips, Leland 'Lee' Sklar, Steve Lukather, Steven Overton, Ray Williams, Weston Wilson, Barbara Gruska, Dylan Ronan, Tina Guo, Hannah Ruick, Nathan East, Jay Gruska, David Paich, Mark T. Williams, Weston Wilson, Steve Tavaglione, Jeff Babko & Rudy Boots.
2
Sony Music 2020
Tracks: Runaway Dancer, 10 Miles, Love In The World, Amandas Disguise, Between The Lines, Look Away, All That I Want, Restless Love, Price Of Love, Sometimes You Win, Love In The World (Album Version), Letter to God (Unplugged) & Aria (Radio Edit).
Musicians on the 2 album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Tamara Champlin, Michael McDonald, Amy McDonald, Randy Goodrum, John JR Robinson, Frank Ådahl, George Hawkins Jr, Lars Säfsund, Bill Cantos, Stefan Gunnarsson, Per Lindvall, Johan Franzon, Alan Hertz, Erik-Andre Rydhingen, Johan Granström, Ove Andersson, Tomi Malm, Sebastian Robertson, Janne Peltoniemi, Robert Sall, Jonas Hall, Andreas Andersson, Jonas Lindeborg & Staffan Findin.
2
Black Lodge 2020
Tracks: Runaway Dancer, 10 Miles, Love In The World, Amandas Disguise, Between The Lines, Look Away, All That I Want, Restless Love, Price Of Love & Sometimes You Win.
Musicians on the 2 album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Tamara Champlin, Michael McDonald, Amy McDonald, Randy Goodrum, John JR Robinson, Frank Ådahl, George Hawkins Jr, Lars Säfsund, Bill Cantos, Stefan Gunnarsson, Per Lindvall, Johan Franzon, Alan Hertz, Erik-Andre Rydhingen, Johan Granström, Ove Andersson, Tomi Malm, Sebastian Robertson, Janne Peltoniemi, Robert Sall, Jonas Hall, Andreas Andersson, Jonas Lindeborg & Staffan Findin.
10 Miles
LA Project Productions 2018
Tracks: 10 Miles, Amanda´s Disguise, Lavender Moon, Ocean Drive, Letter To God (Unplugged) & Aria.
Musicians on the 10 Miles album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, John "JR" Robinson, Frank Ådahl & Steve Porcaro.
CWF
Pony Canyon 2016
Tracks: Runaway, Aria, Still Around, All That I Want, Carry On, Nightfly, After The Love Has Gone, Two Hearts At War, Rivers Of Fear, Evermore. Lavender Moon (Bonus Track) & Ocean Drive (Bonus Track).
Musicians on the CWF album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, Tamara Champlin, Will Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Ingmar Åberg, Lars Säfsund, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Jon-Willy Rydningen, Eirik-André Rydningen, Lars-Erik Dahle, Janne Peltoniemi, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Jonas Wall, Andreas Andersson & Jonas Lindeborg.
Champlin Williams Friestedt
AOR Heaven 2015
Tracks: Runaway, Aria, Still Around, All That I Want, Carry On, Nightfly, After The Love Has Gone, Two Hearts At War, Rivers Of Fear & Evermore.
Musicians on the CWF album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, Tamara Champlin, Will Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Ingmar Åberg, Lars Säfsund, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Jon-Willy Rydningen, Eirik-André Rydningen, Lars-Erik Dahle, Janne Peltoniemi, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Jonas Wall, Andreas Andersson & Jonas Lindeborg.
Live In Concert
LA Project Productions 2013
Tracks: DVD: Goin´Home, Take It Uptown, Hard Habit To Break, Where To Touch You, When You Look In My Eyes, After The Love Has Gone, Turn Your Love Around, Band Introduction, Look Away, This Fall & Satisfaction. CD: DVD: Goin´Home, Take It Uptown, Hard Habit To Break, Where To Touch You, When You Look In My Eyes, After The Love Has Gone, Turn Your Love Around, Band Introduction, Look Away, This Fall & Satisfaction.
Musicians on the Live In Concert album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Peter Friestedt, Per Mathiesen, Herman Matthews, Tamara Champlin & Stefan Gunnarsson.
Williams Friestedt
AOR Heaven 2011
Tracks: Swear Your Love, Say Goodbye, Sometimes You Win, Where To Touch You, Going Home, Stay With Me, One More Night, Gotta Find It & Letter To God.
Musicians on the Say Goodbye album: Peter Friestedt, Joseph Williams, John "JR" Robinson, Anton Malmberg, Lars Safsund, Bill Champlin, Randy Goodrum, Bill Cantos, Rasmus Kihlberg, Stefan Gunnarsson, Ingemar Aberg, Tommy Denander, Tobias Marberger, Henrik Rongedal, Janne Peltoniemi, Johan Granstrom, Robert Sall, Anders Ojebo & Scandinavian Strings.
Say Goodbye
Zink Music 2010
Tracks: Say Goodbye, Gotta Find It & One More Night.
Musicians on the Say Goodbye album: Peter Friestedt, Joseph Williams, John "JR" Robinson, Anton Malmberg, Lars Safsund, Bill Champlin, Stefan Gunnarsson, Ingemar Aberg, Tommy Denander, Tobias Marberger, Henrik Rongedal, Anders Ojebo & Scandinavian Strings.
This Fall
Victor Entertainment 2008
Tracks: This Fall, Do´ya, It´s A Far Cry, Yeah Yeah Yeah (If I Seem To Wander), I Know What I Know, She Walked, Wonder At All, You Don´t Know What´s Coming, Hush, Don´t Pull The Plug, Angelie, Tell Me Something New, Far Away & I Luv U Goodbye.
Musicians on the This Fall album: Joseph Williams, Steve Lukather, Emmanuel Carvantes, Joe Stanley, David Paich, Anthony Mazza, Bobby Kimball, Sean Barrett, Chris Eaton, J.Willy, Hannah Ruick, Emma Ray Williams, Richie Zito, Joey Carbone, Alan Waddington, Ewen Williams, David Schlitt, Jared Schillt, S.N.Walsh, Bob Birch, David Harris, Mark T. Williams, Steve Porcaro & Rick Marotta.
Joseph Williams
WHD Entertainment 2008
Tracks: What Is She Hiding, That First Night, Takin´ It, One More Change, I Didn´t Do It, This Girl, Something Special, Nothing´s Lost, Make Some Time, Anythin You Say (bonus track), You Forever (bonus track) & I Didn´t Do It (alternative version).
Musicians on the Joseph Williams album: Joseph Williams, Mark T. Williams, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, Jay Gruska, Robbie Buchanan, David Garfield, Michael Omartian, Lenny Castro, Steve Tavaglione, Steve George, Richard Page, Tommy Funderburk, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Jim Horn & Jerry Hey.
Early Years
WHD Entertainment 2008
Tracks: Running On A Deadline, Never Be The Same, Pump Jockys, Fire Power, I'm Holding On To You Forever, Pretty Face, Running In The Dark, Reckless Heart, Hold Me Down & Times Have Changed.
Musicians on the Early Years album: Joseph Williams, Jay Gruska, Michael Landau, Mark Brown, Mark T. Williams, George England, Jay Gruska & Deena.
Tears
WHD Entertainment 2007
Tracks: Agains All Odds, Don´t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Track Of My Tears, All In Love Is Fair, Everytime You Go Away, Always On My Mind, All By Myself, Tears In Heaven, She & My Immortal.
Musicians on the Tears album: Joseph Williams, Hannah Ruick Williams, Emma Ray Williams, Amye Williams & Roxann Harris.
Smiles
WHD Entertainment 2007
Tracks: Don´t Worry Baby, Walk Between The Raindrops, Still Crazy After All These Years, Wonderful Tonight, For Your Love, A Song For You, Peaceful Easy Feeling, More Than I Can Say, Heaven In Your Eyes, Maybe I´m Amazed, Don´t Know Why & Somewhere Only We Know.
Musicians on the Smiles album: Joseph Williams, Hannah Ruick Williams, Emma Ray Williams, Amye Williams & Roxann Harris.
Two Of Us
WHD Entertainment 2006
Tracks: I Don´t Want To Miss A Thing, Unchained Melody, Because You Love Me, Now And Forever, Your Song, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Have I Told You Lately, Can´t Fight This Feeling, We´re All Alone, Can´t Help Falling In Love & Save The Best For The Last.
Musicians on the Two Of Us album: Joseph Williams & Jim Cox.
Vertigo 2
Frontiers Records 2006
Tracks: In The Blink Of An Eye, All For You, Hold Me, Part Of Me, Holy, I Wanna Live Forever, Save It All Alone, Picking Up The Pieces, Together (Good-bye So Long) & There´s A Reason.
Musicians on the Vertigo 2 album: Joseph Williams, Fabrizio V. Zee Grossi, Jason Scheff, Virgil Donati, Alex Masi, Masayoshi Yamasuka & David Harris.
Vertigo
Frontiers Records 2003
Tracks: Not Enough Hours In The Night, Straight To Your Heart, More Than Enough, Never Let You Go, I Don´t Want To Go, I Want To Be Wanted, China Sky, Love Is Blind, When It Doesn´t Matter, Sarah, Vertigo & More Than Enough (Acoustic Version).
Musicians on the Vertigo album: Joseph Williams, Francis Benitez, Fabrizio V. Zee Grossi, Alex De Rosso, Biggs Brice & JM Scattolin.
Joseph Williams
Cool Sound Records 2002
Tracks: What Is She Hiding, That First Night, Takin´ It, One More Change, I Didn´t Do It, This Girl, Something Special, Nothing´s Lost, Make Some Time, Anythin You Say (bonus track), You Forever (bonus track) & I Didn´t Do It (alternative version).
Musicians on the Joseph Williams album: Joseph Williams, Mark T. Williams, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, Jay Gruska, Robbie Buchanan, David Garfield, Michael Omartian, Lenny Castro, Steve Tavaglione, Steve George, Richard Page, Tommy Funderburk, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Jim Horn & Jerry Hey.
Early Years
Nubieboyz Records 1999
Tracks: Running On A Deadline, Never Be The Same, Pump Jockys, Fire Power, I'm Holding On To You Forever, Pretty Face, Running In The Dark, Reckless Heart, Hold Me Down & Times Have Changed.
Musicians on the Early Years album: Joseph Williams, Jay Gruska, Michael Landau, Mark Brown, Mark T. Williams, George England, Jay Gruska & Deena.
Early Years
Japanese AOR Club Release 1998
Tracks: Running On A Deadline, Never Be The Same, Pump Jockys, Fire Power, I'm Holding On To You Forever, Pretty Face, Running In The Dark, Reckless Heart, Hold Me Down & Times Have Changed.
Musicians on the Early Years album: Joseph Williams, Jay Gruska, Michael Landau, Mark Brown, Mark T. Williams, George England, Jay Gruska & Deena.
3
Kitty Enterprise, Inc 1997
Tracks: I´m Giving Up On You, Goin´ Home, For Your Love, Love In The Rear View Mirror, One Imperfect Heart, Everywhere I Go, Top Down Girl, She´s Gone, Love To Spare, Man In Me & In My Live (Live At The Desperado).
Musicians on the 3 album: Joseph Williams, Steve Lukather, Bill Champlin, Mike Porcaro, Jay Graydon, Steve Porcaro, Ned Doheny, David Paich, Fergie Frederiksen, Bobby Kimball, Mark T. Williams, James Harrah, Joey Carbone, Tony Franklin, Jennifer Condos, Paul Gordon, Dennis Matkosky & Sherwood Ball.
I Am Alive
Kitty Enterprise, Inc 1996
Tracks: Perfectly Clear, Heroes, Cool Night, I Am Alive, Babylon, Dirty Little War, Unarm Your Heart, Out Of Harms Way, I Believe In You, I´d Rather Dance By Myself, Never Let You Go & After Life.
Musicians on the I Am Alive album: Joseph Williams, Joey Carbone, James Harrah, Bobby Kimball, Amye Williams, Michael Landau, Bill Champlin, Jason Scheff, Jay Graydon, Jeff Porcaro, Mike Porcaro, Lenny Castro, Mark Goldenberg, Katy Segal, Danny Peck, Jay Gruska, Paul Gordon, Michael Thompson & Steve Porcaro.
I Am Alive
Kitty Enterprise, Inc 1996
Tracks: Perfectly Clear, Heroes, Cool Night, I Am Alive, Babylon, Dirty Little War, Unarm Your Heart, Out Of Harms Way, I Believe In You & I´d Rather Dance By Myself.
Musicians on the I Am Alive album: Joseph Williams, Joey Carbone, James Harrah, Bobby Kimball, Amye Williams, Michael Landau, Bill Champlin, Jason Scheff, Jay Graydon, Jeff Porcaro, Mike Porcaro, Lenny Castro, Mark Goldenberg, Katy Segal, Danny Peck, Jay Gruska, Paul Gordon, Michael Thompson & Steve Porcaro.
My One/DJ In My Life 12 Inch Version
Rackyo Records 1985
Tracks: My One (12 inch version) & DJ In My Life (12 inch version).
Musicians on the My One/DJ In My Life 12 inch single: Joseph Williams and others.
My One/DJ In My Life
Rackyo Records 1985
Tracks: My One & DJ In My Life.
Musicians on the My One/DJ In My Life single: Joseph Williams and others.
Joseph Williams
MCA Records 1982
Tracks: What Is She Hiding, That First Night, Takin´ It, One More Change, I Didn´t Do It, This Girl, Something Special, Nothing´s Lost & Make Some Time.
Musicians on the Joseph Williams album: Joseph Williams, Mark T. Williams, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, Jay Gruska, Robbie Buchanan, David Garfield, Michael Omartian, Lenny Castro, Steve Tavaglione, Steve George, Richard Page, Tommy Funderburk, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Jim Horn & Jerry Hey.