Jonathan Williams

Peabody/Petersburg High, Petersburg (1971)

Musician

Growing up in a musically talented family, Jonathan joined Peabody High’s marching band in the 8th grade. Because of his enthusiasm and ability to learn different instruments, his music teacher, Mr. William McKinley (now deceased), suggested that Jonathan learn to play the bassoon. Mr. McKinley also encouraged Jonathan to learn to write and arrange music. He began his professional career with a Petersburg area band called Nat Turner’s Rebellion. Subsequently, he was introduced to music producers at All Platinum Records. He was a part of the label’s in-house band that was later known as The Rimshots. They recorded with noted artists Chuck Jackson, Brook Benton, Solomon Burke, Hank Ballard, Silvia Robinson, and Etta James. Between 1973 and 1976 they recorded more than 50 projects for Platinum-Chess Records. In the mid-1970s the Rimshots had great success with their cover recording of “7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle),” and “Super Disco,” which reached number seven on the disco singles charts. Today Jonathan says his music career is still a work in progress. In 2017 he released his first jazz album entitled “Sir Jonathan Williams, To Sir with Love.” He recently released a single entitled “Your Place or Mine”. Mr. Williams continues to do productions for the Sugar Hill Record Label.