Well I guess beauty is in the eye of the Miller Beer holder. This basement in the heart of the city is home to a little slice of country. Country is a lifestyle. It's what you live. It's not something that you just put on a hat and say, "Yee haw." No, it's a lifestyle.
country music
I wasn't born in the state of Georgia. I wasn't born in Tennessee. K.C. Williams was born and raised in Milwaukee, but spent summers on his uncle's farm in Greenwood, Mississippi. I'm just a small city boy with a country mind. And my uncle, in Mississippi, he basically--
there's only two types of music you listened to in his house
that's gospel and country. We couldn't play no R&B. Nothing else. I'm running through the schoolhouse. He fell in love with country music. Growing up in urban Milwaukee that meant line dancing to the beat of his own drum. It just became a part of me and with that, it came a lot of ridicule. You know, because I got teased in elementary, middle and high school. And I used to always say, "One of these days, you guys are going to be seeing me on the stage." And that was my-- always has been my dream. Music has been my life.
guitar music and singing
there's only two types of music you listened to in his house
K.C. began writing songs, playing concerts and eventually moving up the country music ladder. In an industry with few black artists, K.C. stood out. In the beginning, there was a lot of obstacles but I know who I am.
country music
there's only two types of music you listened to in his house
There it is! I had black people telling me I shouldn't be singing country and I had white people telling me I shouldn't sing country. But I tell me, country is where-- that's where I want to be. His big break came during a 1998 festival with one of country music's biggest stars. Tim McGraw was the headliner and I opened up for Tim McGraw for that. And he saw me and sent his band leader over and he says, "Man, hey, Tim likes you. He wants to work with you." And so from there, his band, we started recording together.
guitar country music, singing
there's only two types of music you listened to in his house
K.C.'s career took off. He went on to record multiple studio albums with McGraw's band, which led to European tours across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. His childhood dream had come true. Tim is the reason why I've been touring Europe for the last ten, fifteen years. Because he really, really gave me a boost. And what does this mean?
Kids
Silence! - Nope. Stop. - Stop. In turn, K.C.'s used his success to give others a boost. Give me an example of staccato singing the ABC song. One, two, three and.. A, B, C, D, E, F, G. He stepped out of the spotlight to become a music teacher in the Milwaukee Public School System. Giving back, pretty much, is where it's at with me. Now helping the young kids in the inner city and things. And let them know that there are other ways and means of life.
Kids singing
Kids
So I barter with the kids. I say, "Okay, you teach me what you know and I'll teach you what I know." Quarter note. Here we go. 1, 2, 3, 4
clapping four times
Kids
K.C. has no plans to ride off into the sunset just yet. He still writes music and performs occasionally with his band. It's almost like being in the mob.
laughter
Kids
Once you're in, you know, it's in you. He wears a Cheesehead hat and his suit's now green and gold. Green and gold. Green and gold. But these days, his favorite gig is in the classroom. And I'll probably do a show or two, but my life now is gearing more towards the kids and raising them and making men and ladies out of our young inner city kids. And teaching a lesson he learned long ago. If you'll stay positive and be true to yourself, you don't need to walk the line. Be yourself. So if you like what you're hearing, if you like country music or whatever you like, and it's not what the norm likes, it's okay. It's okay to like different things. It's okay to be different. Let's just be us. Let's love us for who we are. That's just the bottom line.
singing country music
Kids
How ya doing Milwaukee!
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