50 years ago today, President Richard Nixon signed the ceasefire agreement that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on January 27, 1973. Two years later, the North Vietnamese captured Saigon on April 30, 1975. On July 2, 1976, North and South merged to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The Vietnam War has left lasting scars on the American psyche. The conflict cost the lives of 45,933 U.S. soldiers. Over 1.3 million Vietnamese troops were killed. Over two million civilians died. The last American troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973.
One of those who served, as a combat engineer, was James “Kimo” Williams. Williams was inspired to take up the guitar after seeing Jimi Hendrix in concert in Hawaii (where his dad, an Air Force Sergeant, was stationed). The next day, Kimo enlisted in the U.S. Army, on July 4, 1969. In Vietnam, Williams was overheard by an Army entertainment director, who suggested he perform for troops in the field. This frequently occurred under perilous conditions, with combat often imminent.
After the war, Williams used his G.I. Bill benefits to attend Berklee College of Music. In 1997, he was hired as composer for a Steppenwolf Theater production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” This led to a partnership with actor Gary Sinise, with whom he formed the Lt. Dan Band in 2004. The group has been active in charity work, U.S.O. tours, and in general honoring and supporting military personnel and veterans.
In 2015, after 30 years of teaching, Williams retired from his associate professorship in Management and Music at Columbia College.
He composed his “Symphony for the Sons of Nam” in 1990. The work was given its premiere in Savannah, GA. For a greater appreciation of the piece, read the composer’s thoughts under the video at the link.
“Symphony for the Sons of Nam” began as a string quartet. Here’s a another work Williams composed for the medium, “Into the Liquid,” commissioned by the ETHEL Quartet. The piece was also influenced by his tour of duty and concludes with “A Veteran’s Lament.” Again, read the note under the video.
Profile of Williams in Chicago Magazine
And at encore.org
https://encore.org/purpose-prize/james-kimo-williams/
The composer’s website
“… [H]elping veterans express and understand their experiences through art is my true calling.” – Kimo Williams
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