Today we’d like to introduce you to Blanche Williams.
Hi Blanche, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From humble beginnings. Born in San Antonio, Texas, first grade in New Orleans, LA then 2nd grade through high school in Memphis, TN. I was one of five born to an Air Force Master Sgt Dad, with 35 years of service, and a mother who worked 30 years for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It would be my father’s love of Jazz and sense of integrity that rubbed off on me the most and became an integral part of various aspects of my life.
I consider myself multi-faceted. Some would call it a Jane of many trade. I have always believed that who we are inside determines what we do and how we lead our lives. My spirit of adventure and self-confidence has always revealed itself as leaps of faith. Right after high school, I was accepted and attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, my father’s alma mater but after 2 years in Pre-Med, I came back to Memphis to take the time to explore who I was and what I really wanted to do. I knew that the world was waiting for me to decide.
At 19, I was selling Commercial Travel and won a contest; all expenses paid to Miami Beach staying at the Sheraton Bal Harbour in the penthouse overlooking the ocean with a rental car. I fell head over heels in love with South Florida. So much so, that on my 21st birthday I was in my mother’s yellow Ford Pinto station wagon driving back down to Miami. The same day, I arrived I was unfortunately involved in a hit and run accident with drunk driver that left my car totaled but I didn’t have a scratch on me. Fast forward through a series of tough lessons learned and wisdom earned, I found my bearings and made a choice to live with purpose, pride and perseverance.
I began to make a name for myself in Miami including being member of acclaimed Special Events Team for White House Western Hemispheric Summit/Miami, Small Business Incubator Director for the Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development, Inc.(CDC), and receiving the honor of speaking at United Nations Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.
My expertise and drive led me to move to the DC/Maryland/Virginia area where I would become one of the first black females to host and produce my own National XM Satellite Radio Talk Show (Washington, DC) on The Power/Channel 169, the only African-American Talk Channel which was owned by national broadcasting icon Cathy Hughes of Radio One. My show was called “Greatness By Design” and it became a springboard for once in a lifetime opportunities for me to create programming for and have conversations with some of the greatest minds and artists of our time including Jazz Legends like Sonny Rollins, Nancy Wilson, and Quincy Jones along with luminaries like Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr, Dorothy Height, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Dr, Stephen Covey, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee. I covered the historical 2008 Presidential Nomination of Barack Obama in Denver followed by front row coverage of the Obama Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC.
I collaborated with Civil Rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) to convene my groundbreaking 2008 First Annual National Black Women’s Town Hall Meeting featuring a panel of distinguished panelists including Dr. Faye Wattleton, Dr. Avis Jones DeWeever, Dr. Julianne Malveaux/President Bennett College for Women, Dr. Jane Smith/Spelman College for Women and others. It would be sponsored by Lifetime Television and NiaOnline with C-Span live coverage. The 2nd year was held at HBCU Howard University with another stellar panel and a special message from First Lady Michelle Obama delivered by Tina Tchen Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. The 3rd year was held at HBCU Bennett College for Women in North Carolina hosted by its President Dr. Julianne Malveaux.
In 2010, I moved back to South Florida with my young son to enroll him in a specialized aerospace high school. Shortly afterwards, I faced an unexpected health issue that took a miraculous turn. I would leap into learning how to read music and play the flute at 50 years young with a Grammy Nominated Music Educator named Melton Mustafa Jr. He agreed to teach me, as an adult, if I would agree to, in his words, “do whatever I say without question.” I said yes and the rest has been a beautiful walk with Jazz and discovering a passionate connection within that is indescribably fulfilling.
Practice. Listen. Learn. My drive and enthusiasm led me to then audition for a Jazz Sixtet at Palm Beach State College. I got in as the only female, only flutist, and the oldest student. I would begin my first band lesson on my 51st birthday. In March 2016, in order to continue my musical journey and build a community of Jazz Lovers, I started holding Jazz on J Street JAM Sessions, with the musical support of renowned Jazz Drummer Jeff Abbott and Joyce Greenberg Brown Artist/Founder of the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, our first venue located on J Street in Downtown Lake Worth Beach.
Over the past 5 years, we have transformed Downtown Lake Worth Beach and Palm Beach County into a vibrant and happening area for Live Jazz. Our JAM Sessions have featured talented and innovative Professional Jazz musicians from around Florida, the US, and the world. Our gatherings are known as community builders that stretch beyond all boundaries with our motto “Life intersects. Jazz connects.” We have also attracted professional photographers, filmmakers, and artists who have captured priceless musical moments.
In 2019 in the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery we held the first Art Meets Jazz on J Street Exhibition, spotlighting artistic Jazz musicians along with the photographers, artists, and videographers who captured their improvisational artform. Videographer James Venable of Black Door Films created an award-winning documentary called Art Meets Jazz on J Street. View Film: https://jazzonjstreet.com/our-videos.php.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any road worth traveling may have a few peebles, bumps, detours, and seemingly insurmountable roadblocks. But if you keep moving forward, you will always find smooth pavement when you need it most. Life happens and leaps of faith often land you exactly where you should be.
My journey has included being homeless, single parenting, overcoming domestic violence and in 1995 sudden deaths of my beloved father, 2 grandparents, a mentor, while being in the midst of a divorce. Adversity and challenges are part of life but how its our resilience that helps transform them into lessons and blessings.
My success was paved with inconveniences that boosted me towards my greatness…by design. I am where I am because of my challenges not in spite of them. Success then is by choice, not by chance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now in my life, my musicality is the center of my universe. I am a flutist, a creative, a composer. My stage name is Fluteity, pronounced like the world fluidity, and it reflects my state of flow. Becoming a flutist feels like my most authentic self; inside and out.
My flute shero is the incomparable Bobbi Humphrey. I also play the Alto Flute inspired by Jazz Legend Charles Lloyd. But my current favorite is my soulful Native American Flute made of aromatic cedar. I was playing my C-flute under a bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida one sunny day when a Native American medicine man and his wife approached me. His name was Joseph “Many Horses” and he said I was meant to play the Native American Flute. He was Cherokee as is some of my ancestry. He said “if you can count to 6, I can teach you.” That evening he did just that and I have been forever blessed. It connects me to my spirit. You will often find me playing under bridges, under trees, in hallways, outdoor amphitheaters, veranda or porches; pretty much anywhere I can find with great acoustics. The sound floats and carries the love I have in my heart.
I am the founding band member of The Vibe Tribe along with Guitarist Gustavo Dezzutto and James Venable/ Bass/Keyboardist. We take audiences on an experimental journey through sound infusing Jazz, Funk, Blues, and World music with electronics and spoken word. I share a lot of original compositions in this group and I love it!
My flute playing has also unexpectedly opened the door to many other spiritual aspects of my life including the creation and guidance through the Spirit Walk Imagery Board Game where all your choices are right and everybody wins. Learn more at www.spiritwalkgame.com.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I watch and listen to any interviews or conversations I can find on youtube or online with people I admire or seek to understand; especially creative musicians and artists. There is so much to be learned from the past that can be incorporated into the here and now.
Jazz is one of the most original and most evolutionary forms of art. Like water it has no resistance and can take the shape and form of anything.
One book that I really enjoyed reading that helped build a level of acceptance was a book called “Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within” by Kenny Werner. It was truly liberating!
Enjoy the journey, it’s the reward.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jazzonjstreet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancheawilliams/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fluteity/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6151xJcO32afxroGY-LuTQ
- Other: https://spiritwalkgame.com/
Image Credits
James Venable Formal
Jacek Gancarz
Shirley Bryant
Jacek Gancarz
Rachael Johnson
Lauren VanArman
Renee Wright
