Bernie Williams, a man comfortable working hard with his guitar. (Photo courtesy of Steve Fortunato)
Bernie Williams would rather talk about his current pursuit as a guitar player than his past career as an all-star center fielder with the New York Yankees, publicist Steve Fortunato said while setting up my phone interview two days ago. I can respect that.
During a very invigorating phone conversation yesterday, Bernie Williams told me that he was driven to attend the Manhattan School of Music, right now, at age 45, because he is the only one of his siblings without his bachelor’s degree. And while he was growing up on the island of Puerto Rico, his mother and father told their children every day that they should attend college. I can really respect that.
Williams will be arriving in Syracuse Sunday, where he’ll grab his guitar and play in front of Central New Yorkers twice.
The first will be at 2 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium, when he’ll perform the National Anthem before the Chiefs play Norfolk in a Triple-A baseball game. Williams said the last time he played before a baseball game, it was to kick off a game between firefighters and police officers. This guy is just full of nuggets that make this lifelong Mets fan admire him more.
The second performance will be at 8 p.m., at the Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse, with his All-Star Band. Tickets for the Father’s Day show range from $35 to $70, and can be purchased here..
Williams has two albums to his credit, the first of which he released in 2003, while he was still playing with the Yankees. The second came out in 2009, two years after he retired.
After that, he co-wrote a book for Hal Leonard Press, “Rhythms of the Game: The Link between Music and Athletic Performance,” detailing how the similarities between the hard work and discipline needed to make it as an athlete and an accomplished musician allowed him to make the transition.
Williams said he watched his parents work hard while he was growing up, and listened to them talk about the importance of education every day as he attended an arts high school.
The show at the Landmark Theatre will include a set by scholastic musicians involved in Signature Syracuse, a school run by Dick Ford in which a handful of veteran Central New York musicians volunteer to educate city students in the art and love of playing music.
“Edgar Pagan and I will be leading an all-star band of kids from the program to open the show,” Todd Hobin says, “and just like Bernie, many are from Puerto Rico. Yeah, the show will have a Latin feel to it. I can’t wait.”
Williams said that if the schedule in Syracuse permits, of course he and the All-Star Band musicians will interact with those young musicians.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Bernie Williams said.
Here’s a YouTube clip of Bernie Williams playing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Yankee Stadium.
If you’d like to read my other story about Bernie Williams on Syracuse Public Media site waer.org, click the link below.
Would you go see Bernie Williams play guitar if you had the chance? Have you ever seen a musical performer who first made a name in another field, like Kevin Costner or Kevin Bacon? Share your favorite Yankee center fielder story and your favorite guitarist story.
Mark Bialczak 
Comment will be left at WAER, but I went to the show last night with the folks and the potential girlfriend. It was a wonderful show. (Will be covered in tomorrow’s coffee ring.)
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I will be reading the ring later tomorrow, Chris. I am looking forward to hearing how Bernie and the Stars performed. And I am very glad to hear that you and the potential girlfriend are still in there swinging.
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Here’s the problem…During his first career, I watched Mr. Williams and his mates deliver many, many thrashings to my beloved Indians. Some scars run too deep. I’ve seen about as much of him as I ever need to. Not everyone can be a fan.
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That was baseball. This is guitar. You can’t disconnect the two? Ah, well, you are quite the fan. Thanks for stopping by, and I loved my trip to Jacobs Field. Great city stadium you have.
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No, sir, I cannot disconnect. Letting go is not part of my skill set.
I left Cleveland long before Jacobs Field was built, although I go back on a regular basis and take in a game or two. It IS a beautiful ballpark! When I was a kid (oh, boy. Here we go.) We cut school and had to watch the Indians at the old Municipal Stadium…an 80,000 seat behemoth more suitable as a backdrop to a Leni Riefenstahl film than an intimate game like baseball. The outfield had dirt patches and rocks. These damn kids today don’t know how good…
I’m sorry…what was the question?
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Thank you for the wayback moment. Dirt patches and rocks. Indeed.
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And you still found a way to bring sports to the blog. 😉 Seriously, though, it’s a great post. Yes, I’d go see him. 🙂
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Great guitar player, Rachel. Watch the YouTube clip. 🙂
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Will do. 🙂
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hi Mark 🙂 was wondering if you were about!
Nx
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Hi Niki! Still here. Glad to read you tonight, too. 🙂
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hey, whilst I can ask…
how does this stuff work…
i mean, lots of followers etc.. ?
for me I need to connect with people,
I mean, find the ones that I really feel,
I get that if my words can touch 1,000’s
that’s great! but for me this is about my community;
would really appreciate your thoughts
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I like to get followers and views, but, this is about community for me, too, Niki. I have found more than a dozen bloggers that I read all the time, and they read me all the time. We comment on each other’s work all the time. That makes it easy to find the other’s stories, and I have friends, real, live, great friends that I talk to through WP. But I have to like reading their blogs or it won’t work.
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right, yes, cool, i see,
really, thank you
all this is a long held dream manifesting,
your example and encouragement
means so much to me
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I am so glad that this man has become part of Syracuse’s places to be, very soon! I would definitely enjoy hearing his band and him play and sing! I think Bernie Williams has a nice voice, along with a good personality. I am excited that his band consists of many talented musicians. I hope to hear more of his music. I cannot believe his first album was in 2003, Mark! I am ‘behind’ the times! Smiles, Robin
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You are never, ever behind the times, Robin. Just busy working for Advance Auto Parts, Delaware County division, my friend.
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that is so, so cool. what a great guy. i would go see him in a heartbeat, if given the opportunity. darren mccarty used to have a band here in detroit called grinder. not that great but loved them, and they donated money they made to charity.
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McCarty did a good thing, playing out and giving the money to charity. I like that whole vibe of giving back, Beth. Bernie is a really good guitarist, and his all-star band is filled with cats who have played with the best. It is top-shelf.
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