Mason Williams
Mason Douglas Williams (born August 24, 1938) is an American classical guitarist, composer, singer, writer, comedian, and poet, best known for his 1968 instrumental "Classical Gas" and for his work as a comedy writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live.
For other people named Mason Williams, see Mason Williams (disambiguation).
Mason Williams
Mason Douglas Williams
August 24, 1938
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Musician, composer, songwriter, writer, poet, photographer
1958–present
American Gramaphone, Everest, Flying Fish, Olympic, Real Music, Skookum, Vanguard, Vee-Jay, Warner Bros., WEA
Early life[edit]
Williams was born in Abilene, Texas, the son of Jackson Eugene (a tile setter) and Kathlyn (née Nations) Williams.[1]
Williams grew up dividing his time between living with his father in Oklahoma and his mother in Oakridge, Oregon.[2] He graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma[3] in 1956. It was in Oklahoma that he began his lifelong friendship with artist Edward Ruscha.[4]
He attended Oklahoma City University (1957–60) and North Texas State University for one semester, and served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1963.[1]
Environmentalism[edit]
After becoming involved in protests against a Willamette River hydroelectric power project, Williams eventually collected over 400 songs about rivers.
He created a program called Of Time and Rivers Flowing.[30] that encompasses classical, folk, minstrel, gospel, jazz, country, pop & contemporary rock.
Personal life[edit]
Williams married Sheila Ann Massey on April 22, 1961; they had one daughter, Kathryn Michelle, before divorcing.
He remarried, to Katherine Elizabeth Kahn, in February 1994; the couple divorced after ten years.[31]
He lives in Eugene, Oregon, with his Canadian-born wife, Karen, an attorney.[3][32]