Schimmel Center Presents Four-Time World Series Champion And Latin Grammy-Nominated Guitarist Bernie Williams

Schimmel Center presents four-time World Series Champion, and former New York Yankees baseball player, Latin Grammy-nominated guitarist, and composer Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band on Friday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. in an evening of music featuring fusions of jazz, rock, and the tropical rhythms of Williams' Latin heritage. 51 VIP tickets (in honor of his New York Yankees number), which include premium seating and post-show meet and greet with Bernie Williams, are available.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Williams discovered his love for baseball and music at roughly the same time. At the age of eight he fell in love with the sounds of a flamenco guitar his merchant-marine father brought home from Spain, and also felt the same exhilaration when he first picked up a baseball bat. The young student-athlete quickly excelled in both pursuits, going on to attend the special performance arts school Escuela Libre de Musica at 13 and becoming one of the most noted young athletes on the island. Bernie was signed by the New York Yankees after high school in 1987. After working his way through the farm system, Williams made his Major League debut with the Yankees in May 1991.

In his 16-year career patrolling centerfield for the New York Yankees, Bernie Williams was a four-time World Series Champion and a five-time All Star. Williams has more post-season RBIs to his credit than any other player in Major League history and his resume also boasts four Gold Glove awards, six American League pennants, the 1996 ALCS MVP award, and the 1998 American League batting title. Bernie is also among the Yankees all-time leaders in every major batting category, with his performance statistics often standing alongside such legends as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio. On May, 24, 2015, the Yankees retired Bernie's uniform number 51 and a plaque was dedicated and placed in Monument Park in Yankee Stadium, cementing his legacy as an all-time Yankee great.

Throughout Williams' years with the Yankees, his passion for music never waned, and the sound of his guitar would often be heard emanating from the clubhouse or during team flights. Whether acoustic or electric, a guitar was a constant presence in the star's locker or equipment bag, and it was no surprise when he demonstrated how serious his musical pursuit was with the release of his first album, The Journey Within in 2003. The record was met with both strong critical praise and instant chart success, reaching number three on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart.

Bernie released his second album Moving Forward in 2009 which features guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada, Dave Koz, and an all-star cast of renowned studio musicians. Moving Forward debuted as Billboard's number two Contemporary Jazz album in the country, and continued to hold that chart position for five straight weeks, spawning two consecutive Billboard number one singles, "Go For It," and "Ritmo de Otoño." The album was also nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album.

In addition to performing at concert venues, music festivals, and special events, since the release of Moving Forward, Bernie spent considerable time authoring his first book, Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Music and Athletic Performance, published by Hal Leonard Books and released in July 2011. The book examines the symbiotic relationship between musical artistry and athletic performance through the eyes of a man who has mastered both.

Williams is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance.

Event Information

Schimmel Center Presents
Bernie Williams AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND

Friday, October 12, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at www.schimmelcenter.org, by calling 212-346-1715 or by visiting the box office located at 3 Spruce Street. The Schimmel Center box office is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from Noon to 5:00 p.m. and three hours prior to performances.

Image by Bill Menzel