Lita’s Rising Star

By Susan BushPrint Story | Email Story
Lita Williams recorded original material while living in North Adams.
Lita Williams may well be within singing distance of her vocal goal. On Jan. 6, Williams, 21, is slated to deliver a live performance at Nashville's Wild Horse Saloon as one of 42 semi-finalists vying for a spot on the USA Network’s television show “Nashville Star.” Williams will perform an original song and the Sugarland hit tune “Baby Girl.” Pumped “I’m wicked pumped,” Williams said during a Dec. 30 telephone interview from her Music City home. It’s not hard to understand Williams’ excitement about the Friday night challenge; the 2004 Drury High School graduate remains part of a vocal showcase whittled down from about 20,000 singers who carried dreams of appearing on the Nashville Star stage. Not all the semi-finalists are slated to sing at the saloon; another group is scheduled to perform at a Houston, Texas venue during Jan 3-4. Final selections are expected to be made on Jan. 10 and the fourth season premiere is scheduled air on March 7 with hosts Wynonna Judd and country rapper Cowboy Troy. Lovin' the Crowds Williams said that she isn’t nervous about performing at the landmark Nashville venue, but then again, this is not her first time on a big stage. In 2003, Williams won a talent contest sponsored by the Schenectady, N.Y.-based WGNA 107.7 FM radio station. The win meant Williams performed live at the country music industry renowned CountryFest event in front of over 35,000 people. She has performed at numerous city venues, including the Mayor’s Downtown Celebration and LaFesta events, and when in the area, usually performs at Gringos restaurant. According to her mother Janeen Flagg and the singer herself, she simply isn’t plagued with performance jitters. “I always say the more the merrier,” Williams said of large, live crowds. Many Ways to Win And missing a Nashville Star win isn’t the end of every aspiring country star’s dreams; at least one show runner-up has burst forth as a country music performer as a result of appearing on the show. Country singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert finished third to top finisher Buddy Jewell during the show’s debut season; her recording of the original song “Kerosene” is burning up the country charts and Lambert is scheduled to appear at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. on Jan. 26 with legendary country singer George Strait. "You've Got What You've Got" Williams is hoping that her star is ready to rise. During the semi-finalist event, she plans to play a guitar she bought recently at Wood Brothers music store in Pittsfield, and deliver a classic powerhouse “Lita” performance. “When I’m performing, I’m doing the best I can,” Williams said. “You’ve got what you’ve got. They [audiences] are gonna love you or hate you and there isn’t anything you can do about it.” What Williams has “got” has grabbed the attention of Del Miller, CEO of Shadow Mountain Publishing, an independent, Nashville-based music publishing company. Miller launched the company in 2004. His business partner is veteran musician Jim Cristaldi. "I Gave Her 15 Minutes...." Miller had no intentions of managing any performers until he met and listened to Williams, he said during a Dec. 31 telephone interview. A business acquaintance told him that Williams was something special and worth a bit of Miller’s time; Miller ultimately agreed to a very brief meeting with Williams, he said. “I gave her 15 minutes,” Miller said. “And in 15 minutes she smoked me. I was really lucky to have her walk into my office. I think she’s going to set this town on its’ ear.” Williams’ songwriting abilities are every bit as impressive as her powerful, on-target vocals, Miller said, and the publishing company plans to cultivate her writing talents. ”We want to develop her as a better songwriter, smooth out some of the edges,” he said. “We’re trying to get her ready for Nashville Star and we are working with her on the songwriting.” Williams has been writing since she was able to spell and has a collection of about 250 to 300 original songs. She isn’t limited to guitar licks; Williams fingers often prance across a keyboard or strum a banjo or ukulele. “I’m dabbling in a little bit of everything,” she said, and added that her choice of instrument for writing music “depends on what mood I’m in and how much my fingers hurt.” An original tune titled “Git R Done” has struck a chord with those who’ve been treated to a Williams performance of the song. Williams said that she wrote the song during her first night in Nashville. “Everybody that I’ve played it for loves it,” Williams said. Miller has scheduled monthly music sessions that spotlight Williams and allow various music industry professionals to meet her. “I tell her to take out the guitar and just start,” Miller said. “She draws them in and blows them away.” Livin' La Vida Lita Williams is presently waiting tables at a Chili’s restaurant, where hopes of breaking into Nashville’s inner circle and securing a recording deal is as commonplace as forks, spoons, and jalapeno peppers. “Half the people I work with are trying to get into the business,” she said. She is also performing at open microphone events when she can, and “I’m a karaoke bar junkie,” she said. The move to Nashville wasn’t Williams’ first journey to a new location. When she was 12, her mother, stepfather Brian Flagg and her siblings moved from Hawaii to Texas. The Lone Star state is where Williams, who was already an experienced singer, developed her passion for country music. That passion bloomed when the family moved to North Adams, and Williams began performing at every opportunity. She very quickly gained a huge fan base and became locally recognizable as simply “Lita.” In Nashville, Williams said that she is surrounded by swarms of extremely talented people. “It’s hard,” she said of pursuing a music career. “I’ve actually been pretty lucky. People are telling me that for being here such a short time, I’ve made a lot of contacts and met a lot of people.” And she’s learning the ropes. “There’s just so much talent here, you have to have something that sets you apart, something people will remember,” she said, and mentioned a snazzy, glittery belt buckle emblazoned with “Lita” scrollwork that has stood out at Nashville Star events. She’s also learning about the fine lines that can blur the identity of up-and-comers. More than one person has compared Williams with country singer Gretchen Wilson, she and Miller said. “I like Gretchen Wilson’s music,” Williams said. “But I really don’t like to be compared to anyone else. I have my own stuff and I have my own style. I’m Lita.” A Force In This Town Miller agreed and reiterated that until he met Williams and watched her perform, he hadn’t intended to manage any Nashville newcomers. He believes that Williams has the potential to make the final cast of Nashville Star and is also capable of winning the talent competition. “I believe that she has the potential to take it,” he said. Williams’ career does not hinge on Nashville Star success, he said. “She’s probably the best-kept secret in Nashville right now,” Miller said. “She will make it, I’d mortgage the house on that. I have no doubt that she will be a force in this town.” Additional information about Lita Williams is available at a www.litawilliams.com Internet web site. Additional information about Nashville Star may be acquired at a www.usanetwork.com Internet web site. Information about Shadow Mountain Publishing and Del Miller is available at a www.shadowmountainpublishing.com Internet web site. Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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