Willy Mason biography
Willy Mason (born November 21, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter.
Early life
He was born in New York, the son of Jemima James and Michael Mason, both folk singers. When Mason was five, he and his family moved from New York to West Tisbury, Massachusetts on the island of Martha's Vineyard. He attended West Tisbury Elementary School and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, where he participated in several local bands such as Keep Thinking, Cultivation, and Slow Leslie. He also was in the MVRHS Minnesingers. He is a direct descendant of the 19th century philosopher William James, the brother of novelist Henry James.
Career
Mason's popularity rose after Sean Foley, associate of musician Conor Oberst, discovered his music on a local Martha's Vineyard Radio broadcast. Oberst would soon sign Mason to his new record label, Team Love and release his debut LP.
In 2004, he toured the United States. After many live appearances throughout 2004 and 2005, culminating with a performance at the Glastonbury Festival, Mason took time off and returned to his family's home on Martha's Vineyard. He began writing new songs and put a band together, featuring Nina Violet on viola and backing vocals, and Zak Borden on mandolin. In early 2006, they began touring the US and Europe, along with other musicians. He supported Beth Orton, KT Tunstall, Radiohead, and Sondre Lerche.
Mason released his second album, If the Ocean Gets Rough, in March 2007. He provided vocals for the track "Battle Scars" on The Chemical Brothers' album We Are the Night. The song "Pickup Truck," recorded live at Aboveground Records in Edgartown, Massachusetts, is included on Radio Waves, Vol. 1, a compilation album of music from Martha's Vineyard, and released on June 29, 2007 to help purchase transmitting equipment for a new community radio station.
Willy Mason is currently on tour, which will see him play small venues in England, Scotland Wales and Ireland. He is currently working on his new album. Mason featured in "No Room For Doubt", from Lianne La Havas' EP Lost & Found which was released on 21 October on the Labour of Love label.
Discography
Albums
- Where the Humans Eat (2004) #38 UK (2005 release)
- If the Ocean Gets Rough (2007) #33 UK, #60 IRE
EPs
- Untitled (G-Ma's Basement) EP (2004) (UK and U.S.)
- Hard Hand to Hold (Radiate) EP (2004) (UK only)
- Hard to Lie Down (Radiate) EP (2005) (UK only)
- Scraps (Radiate / Astalwerks) EP (2006) (US only)
- March 28, 2006 EP (2006) (Worldwide)
- It's Easy to Talk EP (2007) (Worldwide)
- gmb01 Live Tour EP (2009) (UK only)
- "So Long Baby Shoes EP" (2010) (Worldwide)
- "Live at Grange Hall" (2011) (Worldwide)
Singles
- "Oxygen (Radiate)" (2005) #23 (UK only)
- "So Long (Radiate)" (2005) #45 (UK only)
- "Hard Hand to Hold " (2005)
- "Save Myself (Radiate)" (2007) #42 UK
- "We Can Be Strong" feat KT Tunstall (Radiate)(2007) #52 UK
Other contributions
- WFUV: City Folk Live VII (2004) - "Oxygen"
- Acoustic 07 (2007, V2 Records) - "Oxygen"
- The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show (2007, EMI) - "Careless Whisper"
References
Biography from 
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