"Man looks at the outside, God looks at the heart, and he wants you to come as you are." With that chorus as an all-embracing message, the legendary Williams Brothers step upon a stage in their home state of Mississippi and open their 2003 live record, STILL HERE. It's a sentiment which exemplifies the trio of Melvin and Doug Williams and their cousin Henry Green, who were originally gathered together as children in the late 1950s by the brothers' father, Leonard "Pops" Williams.
Their sweet, comforting, soulful sound was patterned after the Dixie Hummingbirds, and five decades later, it still harbors echoes of that revered group. However, the Williams Brothers' smooth groove on STILL HERE is timeless. When the threesome beckons the faithful on classics "Walk with Me" and "I Don't Know Why," the warmth is palpable and unquestionable. The trio has been trading vocals for so long, the interplay and harmony is completely natural. Doug Williams's original tunes, including the title track and the elated "Heaven Is Waiting," abound with a spirit of joy and grace. STILL HERE showcases gospel legends still at the top of their game.