Pharrell Williams
Biography
Pharrell Williams (b. 5 April 1973, Virginia Beach, Va.), also known simply as Pharrell, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. Williams is the oldest of three sons of Pharaoh Williams, a handyman, and his wife Carolyn, a teacher. His roots extend for generations in Virginia and North Carolina, and one of his ancestors journeyed to West Africa in 1831, prompting other relatives to emigrate from America to Liberia in 1832.
Williams attended Princess Anne High School where he played in the school band; there he got the name Skateboard P. He met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp where Williams played the keyboards and drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone. They were also both members of a marching band; Williams played the snare drum while Hugo was student conductor. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing soul, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock, funk, and hip hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single Frontin' in 2003 and followed up with his debut solo album In My Mind in 2006. His second album, Girl, was released in 2014.
As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various recording artists. Williams has earned seven Grammy Awards including two with The Neptunes. He currently owns a media venture that encompasses entertainment, music, fashion, and art called i am OTHER, a multi-media creative collective and record label that serves as an umbrella for all of Pharrell Williams' endeavors, including Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream apparel, Billionaire Girls Club, textile company Bionic Yarn and a dedicated YouTube channel launched in 2012.
Works for Winds
Adaptable Music
- Happy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (2013/2014)
All Wind Works
- Happy (arr. Brown) (2013)
- Happy (arr. Bernaerts) (2014)
- Happy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (2013/2014)
- Happy (arr. Sackett) (2014)
Resources