Willie West: The Soul Sessions CD Release Performance and Interview

Legendary Soul Singer

A unique CD release event that features a live Mick Sterling Experience podcast that will feature a live interview and performance of a New Orleans legend, the soulful Willie West. Interviewed by Twin Cities musician Mick Sterling, the audience will find out about this influential soul singer who sang with The Meters for years and has his own exemplary career.

Willie West

Mick Sterling

Millard Leon (a/k/a Willie) West was born in Raceland, LA, near the city where his music career got off the ground–New Orleans. West, while never widely known outside soul aficionado circles, did produce a string of classic 45s on numerous labels in the ’60s & early ’70s, including Rustone, Deesu, Chess, Josie, Warner Bros. and Frisco. He recorded with seminal NOLA figures like Allen Toussaint and was backed by The Meters on the soundtrack to the film Black Samson. West, a flamboyant vocalist, was also an unofficial touring member of the Meters in the late 1970’s until they broke up in 1980 and was also a part of the loose congregation of the Uptown Rulers. A regular performer at the tourist-packed bars on Bourbon Street for 20 years, West did not get a full album length recording out until 1999 when his debut CD From West With Love, was released with help from Bobby Love. Carl Marshall produced the follow up When Love Ain’t There in 2000. His most recent CD, When You Tie The Knot, came out in 2002. He also has an unauthorized collection available entitled Soul Masters that includes older tracks recorded with the Meters.