Eugene "Geno" Williams, 64, a professional singer, of Las Vegas, died Aug. 5, 2008. He is survived by his daughter, Leonsya of Las Vegas. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, with services immediately following, both at Palm Mortuary, 6701 N. Jones Blvd.
Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug. 9, 2008.∼Eugene 'Geno' Williams, Jr., performed with The Platters, dies at 64: August 20, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. It came as no surprise to his family when Eugene "Geno" Williams Jr. was signed to a contract with 1950s rock 'n' roll legends The Platters in 1970.
His sister, Shirley DeJean of Fresno, said a love of music came naturally and early for Williams, who grew up in a large family in Fresno. He died of pancreatic cancer Aug. 5 in Las Vegas at 64.
"He started singing in the highchair," she said.
As a toddler sitting in his highchair, he would hum along whenever the song "Bell Bottomed Trousers" came on the radio and tap out the rhythm with a spoon, she said.
Music ran in the family, DeJean said.
Their father, the late Eugene Williams Sr., was a pianist who performed at the Clover Club in Fresno and Ducey's Lodge at Bass Lake. Their mother, the late Leonsya Williams, sang with the choir at Second Baptist Church and formed the Scarlet Voices of Victory, a community choir.
In a 1977 interview, Williams said, "I was always proud of my heritage, and I was always into music."
He sang in the youth choir at the Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Edison High School in 1962. He formed the local singing groups, The Vells and The Precision Six, singing on street corners and for school dances.
"Gene was known for his five-octave bass voice," said his brother, Dale Morris of Keller, Texas.
Williams got his big break one night in 1970 when he was invited to join an impromptu music set held in the garage of Fresno disc jockey Woody Miller. Another guest there that night was Buck Ram, producer and composer for The Platters.
Williams' rendition of "Rainy Night in Georgia" reportedly blew the crowd away, and Ram immediately signed Williams to a contract, said Morris.
Williams moved to Las Vegas where The Platters were based and he toured with the group for most of 18 years.
"Gene was always wanting to get the family involved when he was on the road," said Morris, who recalled the night he took friends to see Williams perform at a Washington, D.C., club.
"He pulled me up on stage to sing with him - it was a deer-in-the-headlights moment for me," Morris said. "He brought a lot of joy to people. He was a great brother."
Williams is preceded in death by his sons Kevin and Brian Williams.
He was buried in Las Vegas. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 1041 E. Jensen Ave. The Jesse E. Cooley Jr. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug. 9, 2008.∼Eugene 'Geno' Williams, Jr., performed with The Platters, dies at 64: August 20, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. It came as no surprise to his family when Eugene "Geno" Williams Jr. was signed to a contract with 1950s rock 'n' roll legends The Platters in 1970.
His sister, Shirley DeJean of Fresno, said a love of music came naturally and early for Williams, who grew up in a large family in Fresno. He died of pancreatic cancer Aug. 5 in Las Vegas at 64.
"He started singing in the highchair," she said.
As a toddler sitting in his highchair, he would hum along whenever the song "Bell Bottomed Trousers" came on the radio and tap out the rhythm with a spoon, she said.
Music ran in the family, DeJean said.
Their father, the late Eugene Williams Sr., was a pianist who performed at the Clover Club in Fresno and Ducey's Lodge at Bass Lake. Their mother, the late Leonsya Williams, sang with the choir at Second Baptist Church and formed the Scarlet Voices of Victory, a community choir.
In a 1977 interview, Williams said, "I was always proud of my heritage, and I was always into music."
He sang in the youth choir at the Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Edison High School in 1962. He formed the local singing groups, The Vells and The Precision Six, singing on street corners and for school dances.
"Gene was known for his five-octave bass voice," said his brother, Dale Morris of Keller, Texas.
Williams got his big break one night in 1970 when he was invited to join an impromptu music set held in the garage of Fresno disc jockey Woody Miller. Another guest there that night was Buck Ram, producer and composer for The Platters.
Williams' rendition of "Rainy Night in Georgia" reportedly blew the crowd away, and Ram immediately signed Williams to a contract, said Morris.
Williams moved to Las Vegas where The Platters were based and he toured with the group for most of 18 years.
"Gene was always wanting to get the family involved when he was on the road," said Morris, who recalled the night he took friends to see Williams perform at a Washington, D.C., club.
"He pulled me up on stage to sing with him - it was a deer-in-the-headlights moment for me," Morris said. "He brought a lot of joy to people. He was a great brother."
Williams is preceded in death by his sons Kevin and Brian Williams.
He was buried in Las Vegas. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 1041 E. Jensen Ave. The Jesse E. Cooley Jr. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Eugene "Geno" Williams, 64, a professional singer, of Las Vegas, died Aug. 5, 2008. He is survived by his daughter, Leonsya of Las Vegas. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, with services immediately following, both at Palm Mortuary, 6701 N. Jones Blvd.
Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug. 9, 2008.∼Eugene 'Geno' Williams, Jr., performed with The Platters, dies at 64: August 20, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. It came as no surprise to his family when Eugene "Geno" Williams Jr. was signed to a contract with 1950s rock 'n' roll legends The Platters in 1970.
His sister, Shirley DeJean of Fresno, said a love of music came naturally and early for Williams, who grew up in a large family in Fresno. He died of pancreatic cancer Aug. 5 in Las Vegas at 64.
"He started singing in the highchair," she said.
As a toddler sitting in his highchair, he would hum along whenever the song "Bell Bottomed Trousers" came on the radio and tap out the rhythm with a spoon, she said.
Music ran in the family, DeJean said.
Their father, the late Eugene Williams Sr., was a pianist who performed at the Clover Club in Fresno and Ducey's Lodge at Bass Lake. Their mother, the late Leonsya Williams, sang with the choir at Second Baptist Church and formed the Scarlet Voices of Victory, a community choir.
In a 1977 interview, Williams said, "I was always proud of my heritage, and I was always into music."
He sang in the youth choir at the Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Edison High School in 1962. He formed the local singing groups, The Vells and The Precision Six, singing on street corners and for school dances.
"Gene was known for his five-octave bass voice," said his brother, Dale Morris of Keller, Texas.
Williams got his big break one night in 1970 when he was invited to join an impromptu music set held in the garage of Fresno disc jockey Woody Miller. Another guest there that night was Buck Ram, producer and composer for The Platters.
Williams' rendition of "Rainy Night in Georgia" reportedly blew the crowd away, and Ram immediately signed Williams to a contract, said Morris.
Williams moved to Las Vegas where The Platters were based and he toured with the group for most of 18 years.
"Gene was always wanting to get the family involved when he was on the road," said Morris, who recalled the night he took friends to see Williams perform at a Washington, D.C., club.
"He pulled me up on stage to sing with him - it was a deer-in-the-headlights moment for me," Morris said. "He brought a lot of joy to people. He was a great brother."
Williams is preceded in death by his sons Kevin and Brian Williams.
He was buried in Las Vegas. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 1041 E. Jensen Ave. The Jesse E. Cooley Jr. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug. 9, 2008.∼Eugene 'Geno' Williams, Jr., performed with The Platters, dies at 64: August 20, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. It came as no surprise to his family when Eugene "Geno" Williams Jr. was signed to a contract with 1950s rock 'n' roll legends The Platters in 1970.
His sister, Shirley DeJean of Fresno, said a love of music came naturally and early for Williams, who grew up in a large family in Fresno. He died of pancreatic cancer Aug. 5 in Las Vegas at 64.
"He started singing in the highchair," she said.
As a toddler sitting in his highchair, he would hum along whenever the song "Bell Bottomed Trousers" came on the radio and tap out the rhythm with a spoon, she said.
Music ran in the family, DeJean said.
Their father, the late Eugene Williams Sr., was a pianist who performed at the Clover Club in Fresno and Ducey's Lodge at Bass Lake. Their mother, the late Leonsya Williams, sang with the choir at Second Baptist Church and formed the Scarlet Voices of Victory, a community choir.
In a 1977 interview, Williams said, "I was always proud of my heritage, and I was always into music."
He sang in the youth choir at the Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Edison High School in 1962. He formed the local singing groups, The Vells and The Precision Six, singing on street corners and for school dances.
"Gene was known for his five-octave bass voice," said his brother, Dale Morris of Keller, Texas.
Williams got his big break one night in 1970 when he was invited to join an impromptu music set held in the garage of Fresno disc jockey Woody Miller. Another guest there that night was Buck Ram, producer and composer for The Platters.
Williams' rendition of "Rainy Night in Georgia" reportedly blew the crowd away, and Ram immediately signed Williams to a contract, said Morris.
Williams moved to Las Vegas where The Platters were based and he toured with the group for most of 18 years.
"Gene was always wanting to get the family involved when he was on the road," said Morris, who recalled the night he took friends to see Williams perform at a Washington, D.C., club.
"He pulled me up on stage to sing with him - it was a deer-in-the-headlights moment for me," Morris said. "He brought a lot of joy to people. He was a great brother."
Williams is preceded in death by his sons Kevin and Brian Williams.
He was buried in Las Vegas. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 1041 E. Jensen Ave. The Jesse E. Cooley Jr. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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