Jason D. Williams at the News Sentinel Open party at Smoky Mountain Brewery on Monday night.
This is just a quick follow-up post to the last one about still ANOTHER fabulous party associated with the News Sentinel Open Presented by Pilot. This one was Monday night at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Turkey Creek. The purpose of this party was to get the pairings for the Wednesday Pro-Am tournament which was sponsored by Ruby Tuesday.
Turns out the entertainer for the evening was an off the charts piano-playing rocker named Jason D. Williams. He’s been around here for many years and is usually in the company of Lucy and Ray Hand, of Eagle Distributing, as he was Monday night. He is the spitting image — at least in performance — of Jerry Lee Lewis. I mean he tears it up! He plays sitting down, standing up, kneeling — and standing on the keys themselves. And he plays with his hands, feet, rear end — and other body parts! (Yep! What you are thinking!)
“I’ve been playing since I was three,” he told the crowd. “And I’ll be playing until I’m 103!” After about an hour of non-stop break-neck honky tonk, he announced, “I’m gonna slow it down now.” But he didn’t. He launched into “Caledonia” played like a runaway train! “Y’all ain’t seen nothing yet!” he teased. “If y’all was acting right, I’d REALLy play the piano!”
Thanks to the News Sentinel and other tournament sponsors for another amazing night! The serious part of the tournament starts Thursday. If you don’t have tickets, click here to go to the tourney website where they are available for just $10 per day or $25 for a four-day pass. See you there!
Alvin Nance, left, CEO of Knoxville's Community Development Corporation, and Dr. Ketan Hira of Summit Medical Group, were unwinding at the party after playing in the Summit Medical Pro-Am on Monday. They were in a foursome with Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. and Alan Carmichael. Pro golfer Adam Long played with them.
Former UT football coach Phillip Fulmer, left, with Alan Carmichael
From left, Blake Fulton of Scripps Networks Interactive; Diana Condon of the News Sentinel and Russell Byrd of Comcast.
From left, Bill Osborne of the News Sentinel; Alan Hill of AT&T; and Jeff Dew of Gastrointestinal Associates
Lucy Hand and News Sentinel Publisher Patrick Birmingham
Wendy Hamilton of Pilot Flying J poses with Jason D. Williams, left, and her husband, Tim Hamilton.
Paul Abraham, left, and Jack Lail, both of the News Sentinel
Rocky Goode checking the pairings.
Jason D. Williams plays with his boot heel!
He likes the girls! Here he is singing Happy Birthday to two of them!
