Photo Credit: Bill Patterson

WILLIE'S SOUND

 

Willie’s formal training and improvisational abilities mix with a variety of styles to create a unique and original sound in her songwriting. Her music has been described as Vince Guaraldi meets Nellie McKay — a folksy-bluesy-jazzy experience. She continues to grow, expand and embrace.

 

When she first began to write songs, Willie joined her music to the lyrical talents of Yvonne Hammond — her mom. They were nominated and voted KUNC radio’s “Best New Artist” of 2004. Her album includes the talents of Mollie O’Brien, Lionel Young, Tony Furtado and more.

 

She has arranged and performed for many well-received musical theater productions including, but not limited to, Daily Camera’s “Best Of the Decade - 2000-2009” — “Songs My Grandmother Taught Me” performed at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art; Telluride: The Musical — a Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “Working Stages” project for new playwrights; and award winning author, poet and playwright, Carolyn Campbell’s “Hallelujah House” and many more.

 

Dotsero (10 weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart) added her arrangement of Jingle Bells to their Christmas Album — “Season Of Wonder.”

 

She composed scores for Boulder Fiske Planetarium and CU Theater and Dance Department which earned her an endorsement from Dave Grusin (Academy and 10-time Grammy Award winner for jazz and film scores).

 

 

Listen to Willie's most recent recordings...

 

​

Too Soon, Too Late (a song about gun violence)

 

​

Rosalia's Fable (a song that addresses bigotry)

 

 

 

 

​

 

In 2020, inspired by Yo-Yo Ma, Willie wanted to reach out to those who were hit hard by COVID. She reached out to her own musical community, which had also been silenced and traumatized.

 

Together while apart, a group of professional and amateur musicians play and sing "May the circle Be Unbroken" with the desire to provide a #SongOfComfort.

 

Watch the video here.

​

 

 

“...Willie Hammond is an amazingly talented composer who has yet to find the boundary of her own musical imagination.

Each time I hear a composition of hers that is new to me, I am in awe.

Her musical pallet ranges from simple and sweet to enormous and inspiring, all

uniquely engaging and fascinating. I learned so much from Willie..."

PAUL VASTOLA - OWNER AND ENGINEER AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN RECORDERS, DENVER, COLORADO