The Williams Brothers

The Williams Brothers are an American traditional black gospel music group from Mississippi, known for their contributions to gospel and contemporary gospel music. The group was formed in 1960 in Smithdale, Mississippi, by Leon "Pop" Williams. The original lineup consisted of brothers Doug, Leonard, and Melvin Williams, along with their cousin Henry Green and Maurice Surrell. The group is noted for being among the first to infuse elements of contemporary gospel into the traditional quartet tradition. Their extensive catalog includes songs such as "Cooling Water," "I'm Just a Nobody," "If I Don't Wake Up," and "Still Here." Throughout their tenure, the group has released 42 albums. The Williams Brothers have had 23 albums chart on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. They have also received multiple Grammy Award nominations in the Best Traditional Gospel Album category. In 1999, they were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame.