Nolan Williams Jr.

Nolan E. Williams Jr. (born March 1969) is an American composer, musicologist, and producer. He was an editor of the African American Heritage Hymnal. Early life and education Williams grew up the son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers. At the age of 4, he heard the song Lean on Me played by the choir at his father’s church. After the service, he asked one of the musicians to play the song for him again on the piano. At home, Williams went to the family’s piano and, with no formal lessons, he sounded out the notes until he could play the song himself. Williams’ first piano teacher was his great-aunt Daisy Marie Young. In 1990 he received a B.A. in music (piano performance) from Oberlin College, and in 1993 he received a Master of Divinity degree in theology from Howard University. Book publications As a musicologist, Williams is best known as the Music Editor of the African American Heritage Hymnal, which he began work on in 1993. Working with co-editor Dr. Delores Carpenter, pastor of Michigan Park Christian Church in Washington, D.C., the hymnal took nine years to compile. The 2001 publication included 575 hymnals, spirituals and gospel songs. Noted musicologist, D