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11/22 – 2022 Holiday Merch Sale!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year - William’s Holiday Merch Sale is here! Read More
11/11 – William’s Handwritten Lyric Sheet Holiday Sale Returns!
William is thrilled to announce that he will again be offering a limited run of handwritten lyric sheets for purchase this holiday season! Read More
11/4 – “Covers, Vol. 1” Out Now!
My first joy as a musician came not from crafting my own melodies or turning a clever phrase. Read More
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Welcome to week 5 of “Why in the world did I cover…?”. @johndenvermusic ‘s “Annie’s Song”, before it was the fifth track on “Covers, Vol. 1”, was the opening track to what would become the soundtrack of my life. It is the perfect love song that, for me, represents the earliest kind of love I knew. I hope that my version does this love justice.
I know it probably feels trite when said too many times…but just thank you. Thank you to each and every one of you that has invited my songs into your lives for comfort, entertainment, connection, or even just background noise while cooking a meal. It means so much to me and it’s partly why I’ll never waiver from trying to make things which give people a sense of peace in a really confusing world. Love you all very much.
It’s time for episode #4 of “Why in the world did I cover…?”, in which we venture into classic rock, a genre that I found a home in at an early time in my life. Today’s feature is the mysterious and multi-emotional “Solsbury Hill” by @itspetergabriel .
My heart is completely broken. My amazing stepmother, Vicki passed away Monday evening unexpectedly. She was fiercely loyal to her family. A wonderful daughter, wife, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother. She treated my children with so much love and devotion, as she did my dad. She was irreverent and funny. She was unapologetic about who she was. She loved musical theater and renaissance fairs and knitting. She was an amazing cook. She helped me through two divorces. She believed in her sons and their passions. I will honor her memory and tell her stories for the rest of my life. She is now at rest but I can’t wait to see her again. I love you Vicki. 💔 🙏
We’re back with part 3 of “Why in the world did I cover…?”, a breakdown of all the covers on my recent album. Next up in the series is “The Commander Thinks Aloud” by The Long Winters, which for me represents both a youthful wonder and a sobering sadness.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year - William’s Holiday Merch Sale is here! Starting today you can use the code WF2022 to receive 15% off all items in William’s official merch store excluding the handwritten lyric sheets, which cannot be bundled with this discount. This sale will run from now until Friday January 6th - place your order in time for the holiday season at the link in bio.
Welcome to the second installment of “Why in the world did I cover…?”, a weekly series where I’ll be speaking about why I chose to record each of the songs on my recent album “Covers, Vol. 1”, and what each means to me personally and musically. Today we’re breaking down “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by @officialjoydivision , which speaks to my love for all things heartbreak (when it comes to music).
First batch of limited handwritten lyric sheets is nearly finished! These are going very fast so please get your order in soon if you want one. Visit https://williamfitzsimmons.com/lyric-promo/ to order. Thanks so much!! 😊
William is thrilled to announce that he will again be offering a limited run of handwritten lyric sheets for purchase this holiday season! He will be numbering the run, and crafting each sheet himself on raw-edged parchment paper that will look beautiful in a frame. When you place your order, there will be a comment field in which you should indicate what song you would like him to write out for you.
The lyric sheets are available for both domestic and international shipping, and while we would love to make it so, we must let you know that we can’t guarantee that the sheet(s) will arrive ahead of the year end holidays. But that just means you can extend the holiday season a little longer if you’re getting this as a gift!
Head over to the link in bio for more information and to place your order!
If you’ve already listened to my recent album, “Covers, Vol. 1.”, it’s possible you’ve found yourself wondering why I chose to include the songs I did. Well, I am here to explain. Welcome to “Why in the world did I cover…?”, a weekly series where I’ll be speaking about why I chose to record each of the songs on the album, and what each means to me personally and musically. First up is “the 1” by the one and only @taylorswift , who I have an extra special connection to. I’ve really enjoyed sharing why I love each of these brilliant pieces of music, and I hope you enjoy learning about it just as much!
My first joy as a musician came not from crafting my own melodies or turning a clever phrase, it was simply singing the folk songs of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and John Denver with my mother as a young child. Listening to records together or simply sitting in the loveliness of her playing hymns at the antique Kimball piano in the family room. Even when I first began playing guitar at 15, I had zero desire to write my own songs. How happy I was to play along with the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or Judy Collins! Leaning the opening riff of Stairway to Heaven or the simple, but glorious chords of Let It Be!
It wasn’t until over a decade later, during my years studying to become a therapist, that I had the urge to make my own songs. To try my hand at giving the same feelings of connection and peace and confusion and joy through writing and recording and playing that my heroes did. But I never lost the desire to step inside the wonder and passion of someone else’s art. To figure out what they were thinking and feeling and being inspired by when they penned and sang these timeless words and compositions.
It is in that spirit that I chose to spend the better part of one year carefully selecting, arranging and recording some of my favorite songs to play. The selection is varied! But the single thread that runs through is songs that have been vital to me as a person and artist recently or throughout my life. The pain and rawness of Joy Division. The genius and timeless melody of Peter Gabriel. The nostalgia and brilliance of REM. My hope is that the listener will be able to experience the familiar in a brand new way, and, for the unfamiliar works, you will find connection and joy. “Covers, Vol. 1” is out now - listen to the album at the link in my bio.
Gear sale alert!! It’s that time again that William is selling off some great live and studio gear. Among the various items are a synthesizer, Electric guitar, live vocal unit, and multiple guitar pedals. All items have been used by William live and/or in studio. Please visit https://reverb.com/shop/williamfitzsimmons for more info (domestic sales only…sorry!).