William Fitzsimmons

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Born the youngest child of two blind parents in Pittsburgh, William Fitzsimmons grew up in a house filled with a myriad of sounds to replace what eyes could not see. The household was suffused with pianos, guitars, trombones, talking birds, classical records, family sing-a-longs, bedtime stories, and the bellowing of a pipe organ, which his father built into the house with his own hands. When his father’s orchestral records were not resonating through the walls, his mother would educate him on the folk stylings of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel. After achieving his goal of becoming a practicing therapist, William returned again to his love of crafting and playing songs. He is often compared to contemporaries Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, and the late Elliott Smith. He uses banjo, melodica, ukulele, mandolin, and sometimes electronic elements in his music. William comes to Michigan with a new release, “Covers,” that includes a version of John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.”