Driving down a Texas highway or a quaint country road you'll often hear Beth's original songs on the radio.  On weekends you may catch her sharing her heart in a concert setting or meet her at a Women's Retreat.  During the week she's giving guitar and vocal lessons and taking her Interactive Entertainment and Exercise Program to the elderly...encouraging through songs, stories and scriptures

 Art , TX - Not far from a small, Texas town widely known as a source for topaz, lives another gem of the Hill Country - an attractive fiftyish lady with an engaging smile and a delightfully easy going personality.   An isolated, early-century farmhouse stands at the end of a long dirt road in the hills some 12 miles from Mason, Texas. There, in a converted loft, a remarkable Texas artist works at her craft.  Beth Williams, a Christian singer, songwriter, musician and record-company entrepreneur writes, sings and records songs about Jesus Christ

Born on Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, the nomadic life of the military led her family to Pakistan, the Philippines, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Okinawa twice, all before she turned seventeen.  Between tours of duty, the family flew back to the USA, and drove from California to Georgia to visit relatives. During these hot, dusty drives, Beth recalls her dad singing to help pass the time for her mother, two brothers and Beth. She believes it was the comforting sound of her fathers resonating voice, and her mothers gift for playing piano that instilled her love of music early on.

Beth recalls living in San Antonio and walking to the front of a Baptist church at the age of 10, along with her brother Steve, to accept Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.  Although her life has had many ups and downs since that time, God's call is irrevocable, and Beth has always found herself back in the presence of His amazing, saving grace.  

Beth's passion for singing and songwriting began as a child. While living on Peshawar AFB in Pakistan, she happened upon a lone GI sitting on the bleachers of a deserted baseball field, singing and playing a guitar. Beth's destiny was sealed ,and her parents bought her a $10.00 guitar at the PX when they were relocated to Okinawa later that same year.

From the very beginning, Williams  spent a large amount of time writing her own songs.  Living with her family on Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa at age 15, Beth won 1st place and $75.00 at the Kubasaki High School Talent Show after performing My Lord's Song, an original composition.  Her family moved to San Antonio, TX at the beginning of her senior year of high school. Immediately after graduating from John Jay High, she began her musical career leading worship music for the Greengate Christian group in San Antonio.  She was also engaged to help lead worship for a Christian community in Seguin, Texas, and invited to share her gospel songs with many of the local San Antonio churches. 

Enlarging her Musical Rainbow, Williams then began her fulltime musical career, delighting Texas audiences, touring Central Texas, military bases and overseas.  After some years of struggle, Beth Williams' musical endeavors seemed to be paying off.  She began to make her mark in the commercial field, as she charted 3 of the songs from her first album, First Class, in BILLBOARD and CASHBOX magazines, right in the middle of Steve Warner and Roseanne Cash, was nominated by the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC , as "Best New Female Vocalist of the Year" , "Best Female Performer", by the INDEPENDENT NEWS, and "Best Independent Female Vocalist" by CASHBOX.

Just as her career was heading mainstream she began moving in the opposite direction with her songwriting and musical abilities.  Beth found the obligation of touring non-stop to be more than she wanted to deal with and to conflict with her desire to be a "Stay at home" wife and mother.   Wanting more artistic control and "voice" in her own music, Beth came home to the Hill Country where she could combine her artistry and family life in a way that gave her control over her own musical destiny.  It was then that she founded her own record company, Willow Creek Records.

In 1990, believing in the healing, uplifting power of music, Beth created Songs for Seniors , an interactive music and exercise program for the elderly.   Nursing Homes, Retirement Centers, and Hospitals have been able to use her music and abilities to further healing.  Seeing the need for quality music among the elderly, Beth also began working as a liaison between nursing homes, hospitals, and other musicians.   "Watching the love affair between Beth and the residents, the smiles, awakening of memories and toe tapping to her music has brought many a tear to all who work in long term care." says Martha Leight, Activity Director at The Summit in Austin, TX.

Williams then produced and released One Empty Chair which was recorded live, with no overdubs, at Willie Nelsons ARLYN studios.  Releasing this CD on her own Willow Creek Records, Beth's second all original CD charted in Gavin and European charts, solidifying Beth's place in the Texas music scene.   Having been taking Songs for Seniors  to nursing homes and hospitals since 1990, the majority of the songs from One Empty Chair were written out of her experiences in these facilities.  A few examples are:  Little Things You Do , He Kissed Her Picture, I Sit & Ride and Sam Will Be Here Soon.

In 1999, Williams produced and released Steady Conversation with the Lord, an album full of some of the most loved hymns, gospel favorites, and 2 of her own gospel compositions.  The least "arranged" of her CDs, with only Beth on acoustic guitar and Rick Mcrae playing lead guitar, a number of listeners have declared this to be their favorite recording of hers.  Saying they feel as if they're sitting in Beth's living room listening to songs that take them back to a simpler time, this CD speaks to and has touched hearts and lives, resounding with comforting hope.

Steady Conversation with the Lord  continues to receive radio airplay.  With songs like Rock of Ages, Precious Memories, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Power in the Blood, Swing Low and others, this CD is a must have for any friend of Beth Williams music.  As an added treat, Beth's husband, Laird Palmer, sings Life's Railway to Heaven and Jesus Loves Me, with Beth adding beautiful vocal harmonies. 

Texas Music Legend Lloyd Maines, one of the most sought after producers in Texas,  co-produced Beth's next CD,  In This Old House. This release was voted one of Austin's Top 10 Albums of 2001 and received a tremendous amount of critical acclaim.  With many of these songs labeled "Message Music", Mayor Gus Garcia proclaimed Feb 14, 2002  "Beth Williams Day in Austin, Texas".  Beth also had a song from this CD, "A Ladder I can Climb", released in the Jane White Movie Soundtrack and Southwest Texas University Travelin’ Texas III CD.  

In July of 2002,  after 30 + years of full-time self employment in the music industry, Beth made the decision to quit the secular music business, stop promoting herself as a singer/songwriter and to instead use all of her musical abilities for God's purposes, glory and pleasure.  

Her 5th recording,  Yodeling in Heaven was released in November of 2003.  This CD is a collection of 12 previously released Beth Williams songs which offer up messages of comfort, spiritual insight and encouragement in a troubled world.  This recording also has 2 new original gospel songs on it.  

In July of 2006, Beth's life changed drastically.  She fly to Florida to pick up her ailing father, John W. Williams, and brought him to live in Art, Texas at the ranch she shares with her husband, Laird Palmer.  Because John's health was deteriorating so quickly, Beth chose to stay home and become his fulltime caregiver.  For this reason she was unable to continue on with her music mission and stopped taking any calls to sing. 

A month after her father arrived, she and her husband were also blessed to be granted permanent custody of their 2 yr. old granddaughter, Mozelle.  Beth had suddenly been called into a season of being the fulltime caretaker of a baby and a very ill 75 yr. old.

For the next year, during this extremely sad, difficult time of watching her beloved father slowing slipping away, the Lord was faithful to give Beth strength and determination to finish the job He had called her to.  He began giving her new songs of hope, praise and worship on the piano, an instrument she had always wanted to play. 

For short periods of time, in between caretaking duties, Beth sat at her mother's piano which had been delivered to the ranch after her father's arrival.  As she began picking out melodies, these songs of praise helped Beth get through the season of heartache as she slowly watched her father fading away. Each time she gave the Lord praise, trusting the one she knew cherished her father more than she did, her spirit was renewed and she was able to continue on in her calling to honor her father.

Beth and Laird are blessed to continue raising Mozelle.

             Will you please pray for Beth's music ministry?  Thank you in advance for your prayers.  Please pray she would wait for direction and move only along the path God has planned for her.  Also, as she works on new songs, that the Holy Spirit will guide and inspire her songwriting that all would be only for the glory of the Most High, our Lord and Precious Savior, Jesus Christ.