ZACH WILLIAMS
An Uncommon Christian Musician
Interview by Eric Dahl
If you’re a fan of Christian music and you haven’t that would be my ticket to the big city. I moved heard of Arkansas native Zach Williams, then off to college to play basketball, and ended you may want to check your music sources. up tearing five ligaments in my ankle. When [WM] Growing up, what kind of music did
Seeming to appear out of nowhere, Williams I realized I wasn’t going to be able to play your family play around the house?
has stormed the Christian Music charts with his basketball I started looking for something else songs “Chain Breaker” and “Old Church Choir,” to do, and my roommate had a guitar. I started [Zach] Funny that you ask about that! My
but the road to success hasn’t always been an teaching myself how to play guitar, and picked parents just came into town yesterday, and
easy path. What could have ended as a sad it up easily and started writing songs. But I also we got to talking. I have a bunch of my dad’s
story became a tale of redemption thanks to fell away from the Lord. I look back now and old records that I’ve had for the last several
a simple book and a song on a radio. Worship feel that the Lord had been calling to me all years. We were going through the records
Musician caught up with Williams at his home my life. I think it scared me, and I ran from it last night and he was pulling out Keith Green,
in Nashville, TN to hear the full story. and got involved in drugs and alcohol. I took Phil Driscoll, Russ Taff, Petra, Mylon Lefevre,
definitely the plan that God had for my life.
the music into the secular world and played and The Pat Terry band. They are all Christian
[Eric Dahl for WM] How did a sports injury in a Southern rock band for several years. We bands from the 70’s and 80’s that my dad grew
turn you into a musician? toured all over the place, just living a reckless up listening to. I remember, as a kid, the record
lifestyle. Then, in 2012, I gave my life to the player was always playing one of these albums.
[Zach Williams] I grew up playing sports, Lord and turned everything around. I ended up I can put on some of the old Petra records and
and it was my dream to be a professional in the Christian music business, and it honestly still sing those songs. Growing up working
basketball player when I got older. I thought wasn’t something I set out to do, but it was for dad’s construction company, he always
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February 2018
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