Genre: Guitarist, Composer and Recording Artist
Active Years: 1960s – today
Mason Williams, Grammy Award-winning composer of the instrumental hit “Classical Gas” and Emmy Award-winning writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” has been a dynamic force in music and television circle since the 1960s. Born in Abilene, Texas in 1938, Williams spent his youth divided between living with his father in Oklahoma and his mother in Oregon.
In 1976 Mason married Kandi Foster Helstrom of Lake Oswego, Oregon. They & Kandi’s two daughters, from a previous marriage, Kelly & Kimberly, lived in Eugene. Mason continued pursuing his career of writing, recording & performing.
In 1992 Williams began to produce and perform a Christmas Holiday Pops Concert for guest performers, choirs and orchestra. He played with The Eugene Symphony for the ‘92, ‘93, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99 & 2000 seasons. He also played a total of twelve concerts with The Oregon Symphony for the 1994 & 1998 seasons.
At his 2000 Holiday Pops Concert with the Eugene Symphony, by proclamation from the Governor, Mason was designated “Oregon Musician Laureate” for the state.