Erik Sven Fernström (15 April 1942 – 25 March 2018), known by his stage name Jerry Williams, was a Swedish singer and actor. He began his career as the lead singer of The Violents, before launching a solo career.
Jerry Williams | |
|---|---|
 Williams in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Erik Sven Fernström |
| Born | 15 April 1942 Solna, Sweden |
| Died | 25 March 2018 (aged 75) Täby, Sweden |
| Years active | 1962–2018 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Sunglasses, Sonet, Eurodisc |
Early life
editWilliams grew up in a working-class family in Solna. The family had a one-room apartment. Williams' mother, a nurse, died when he was only twelve years old. His father took care of him and his brother alone.[1] He was very interested in sports, and as a youngster he played football, ice hockey and was engaged in cycle sport. He was also a member of Narva BK, a boxing club.[2]
In his youth, Williams worked as a plumber.[1] He did his mandatory military service in 1966.[3]
Career
editIn 1962, Williams joined The Violents, a Swedish band that was formed in 1959 influenced by the English instrumental guitar group The Shadows. The band had a number of line-up changes. But when Williams joined in 1962, he became frontman and the lead singer of the band. In 1962, Williams and the Violents released a version of "Darling Nelly Grey" as a single, which became a major hit in Sweden.[4]
When Little Richard performed at the Star-Club in Hamburg in 1962, both Williams along with The Violents and The Beatles were opening acts.[3] When The Beatles toured Sweden in 1963, Williams and The Violents were the opening act.[4] The Violents folded in 1966. A single was released on Laurie Records #3339 in 1965 "The Wanderer" b/w "Runaround Sue", both hits for Dion in the U.S. a few years before.
In the 1960s, Williams recorded a track with English record producer Joe Meek. The track was called "The Wonder Of Your Love". It was never released and was found amongst Meek's tapes when he died. It can be heard on YouTube.[citation needed] Williams' music style was soul-influenced by the end of the 1960s, and the song "Keep On" became a hit in Sweden in 1969.[5]
He returned to rock and roll-based music in the early 1970s and performed with the band Roadwork until the early 1980s. During the 1970s, he also toured with the band The Telstars.[5][6] In 1983, Williams made his debut as an actor in the film G – som i gemenskap. He also acted in the musical "Cats.[6]
In 1989, Williams released the song "Did I Tell You", which became his biggest hit, and the record JW which led to him being discovered by a new generation. A music video was also filmed for "Did I Tell You".[7] During this time, Williams also had the stage show act "Live på Börsen" at Hamburger Börs in Stockholm.[7] Williams followed it up with more shows such as Live 'n Jive at Hamburger Börs in 1999, Jerka at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg and Göta Lejon in Stockholm in 2002.[8] As well as "Ringside" at Scalateatern in 2005, and Lorensbergsteatern in Gothenburg in 2006.[8] In 1985, Williams was awarded a cultural award Swedish Trade Union Confederation, and in 1991 he was pictured on a Swedish stamp.[9] In the Eurovision Song Contest of 1989, he was a part of the choir for the song "En dag" which was performed by Tommy Nilsson representing Sweden.[10]
In 1986, he lost almost 2.9 million (SEK), reportedly as a result of mismanagement of funds by his financial advisor.[11] Williams was a host for Sommar i P1 on Sveriges Radio on 5 August 2009.[12] In 2010, an art project featuring his work was exhibited at Göteborgs Konsthall in Gothenburg. In 2009 and 2010 he had the show Dynamite at Rondo in Gothenburg and Tyrol in Stockholm.[13] He performed on the popular TV show Allsång på Skansen on several occasions.[14]
On 17 January 2013, Williams premiered his farewell tour Jerry – The Farewell Show at Cirkus in Stockholm. Over 100,000 tickets were sold for the entire pan-Sweden tour for most of 2013.[15]
Also in 2013, Williams co-operated with opera singer Malena Ernman on the latter's album I decembertid. He sang "Counting Miracles", the opening track of the album as a duet with Ernman.[16] The song charted at Svensktoppen, and placed as number one on 6 April 2014.[16]
Language
editOne of Williams' trademarks was the unique language and speech pattern he used throughout his life. It was a kind of sociolect based on old Stockholm dialects and slang, mixed with words and expressions used by touring musicians, notably smaller bands touring by bus. He also invented words, metaphors and expressions of his own; some of which would filter out and become part of the Swedish way of talking. Sometimes when he appeared on national TV, the broadcast company would subtitle the program in Standard Swedish.[3][17]
Personal life
editWilliams was a lifelong communist.[18] Off stage he led a very private life[17] with his family, dogs and training. He was an AIK supporter.[2]
Williams had been married since 1977, and had two daughters from that marriage.[19] Before getting married he was a single father with a son. He lived in Täby at the time of his death.[19] Williams died from cancer in Täby on 25 March 2018, aged 75.[20]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE [21][22][23] | ||
| 1963 | Jerry 21 | - |
| 1963 | Mr. Dynamite | - |
| 1964 | More Dynamite | - |
| 1964 | At the Star-Club | - |
| 1965 | Mr. Dynamite Explodes Again | - |
| 1966 | Action | - |
| 1968 | Power of Soul | - |
| 1969 | Dr. Williams & Mr. Dynamite | - |
| 1970 | Leader of the Pack | - |
| 1971 | Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On | - |
| 1972 | Money | - |
| 1973 | Keep On | - |
| 1974 | Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller | - |
| 1976 | Kick Down | 45 |
| 1977 | Too Fast to Live – Too Young to Die | – |
| 1979 | I Can Jive | 12 |
| 1980 | Hot Rock 'n' Roll Band | – |
| 1981 | No Creases | 48 |
| 1982 | God Bless Rock 'n' Roll | 46 |
| 1983 | 2 Faces | 43 |
| 1984 | Working Class Hero | – |
| 1987 | One and One | 44 |
| 1989 | JW | 3 |
| 1993 | Jerry Williams | 13 |
| 1996 | Keep On Rollin' | 16 |
| 1998 | Kung i blodet | 11 |
| 2000 | Can't Slow Down | 6 |
| 2002 | Sweet Sixty | 16 |
| 2011 | Alright | 5 |
| 2013 | Keep On | 18 |
| 2015 | Ghost Rider | 4 |
Live albums
edit| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE [21][23] | ||
| 1990 | Live på Börsen | 7 |
| 1990 | Golden Hits Live | 59 |
| 2009 | Dynamite – Live | 16 |
| 2018 | Man måste få lira (Live på Scalateatern / 2016) | 44 [24] |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE [21][23] | ||
| 1999 | Jerry Williams Greatest Hits | 2 |
| 2007 | I Can Jive – Det bästa med Jerry Williams | 4 |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [21][23] | |||
| 1965 | "The Wanderer" | Laurie 3339 | |
| 1989 | "Did I Tell You" | 1 | |
| "It Started With a Love Affair" | – | ||
| 1990 | "Who's Gonna Follow You Home?" | 4 | |
| 1991 | "If You See Her" (Jerry Williams & The Boppers) |
28 | |
| 1992 | "Rock A Doddle" | 31 | |
| 1993 | "Goodbye Rolling Stones" | 21 | |
| 1996 | "Jackson" | 45 | |
| 2005 | "Ringside" | 59 |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Åsa-Nisse och tjocka släkten | Clerk at the Music Store | |
| 1967 | Drra på – Kul grej på väg till Götet | Himself | |
| 1983 | G – som i gemenskap | Motorcyclist | |
| 1985 | On the Loose | Frasse | Short film |
| 1987 | Nionde kompaniet | Himself (uncredited) | |
| 1991 | Rock-a-Doodle | Chanticleer (Swedish voice) | |
| 1996 | Lilla Jönssonligan och cornflakeskuppen | Einar Vanheden |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | C/o Segemyhr | Himself | |
| 2003 | Håkan Bråkan | Himself |
Bibliography
edit- Williams J.; Rehnberg B. (1992). Jerry: självbiografin. Norstedt. ISBN 9119192126.
Citations
edit- ^ a b Sweden, Sveriges Television AB, Stockholm. "Per Andersson: "Han var rörmokaren från Solna"". Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018 – via svtplay.se.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Töpffer, Michael (28 March 2018). "Jerry Williams hemliga liv – därför drog han sig undan". Expressen. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ a b c Steen, Håkan (26 March 2018). "Håkan Steen: Tack så mycket för liret "Jerka"". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Jerry Williams var en dynamit som höll sig explosiv i över 50 år". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Jerry Williams är död – somnade in efter en kort tids sjukdom". 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Vännerna chockade över Jerry Williams plötsliga död: "Fy vad det gör ont"". Expressen. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Milstolparna i Jerry Williams karriär – DN.SE". 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Jerry Williams är död – DN.SE". Dagens Nyheter. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ /TT (26 March 2018). "Löfven om Williams: "Snacka om folkkär" – Kristianstadsbladet". Kristianstadsbladet. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Tommy Nilsson sjunger 'En dag', men håll koll på kören… Det här hade jag helt glömt bort!". 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Rådgivare åtalas för förskingring – DN.SE". 4 February 1997. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Jerry Williams – Sommar i P1". Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Sveriges Radio Retrieved 27 March 2018 }}
- ^ "Jerry Williams – Dynamite". 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Jerry Williams levde för musiken". unt.se. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Jerry Williams". 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b Radio, Sveriges. Counting Miracles ny etta! – Svensktoppen. Sveriges Radio. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b Linderborg, Åsa (26 March 2018). "En genuint vacker själ". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ Bengtsson, Janne (26 March 2018). "Jerry hymlade aldrig med sina politiska åsikter". Proletären. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ a b Görnerup Faith-Ell, Åsa (4 February 2014). "Jerry Williams tar farväl". Lokaltidningen Mitt i Solna.
- ^ "Jerry Williams smärta – led av svår sjukdom". Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Jerry Williams discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ "Jerry Williams – Album Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Jerry Williams (3)". discogs. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
Further reading
edit- Lahger, Håkan (2013). Jerry Williams: keep on : 1962-2013 (in Swedish). Stockholm: [Lyssna nu]. ISBN 978-91-85569-44-1. SELIBR 14793717.
External links
edit
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
- Jerry Williams discography at Discogs
- Jerry Williams at IMDb
