William Elliot Whitmore

A man armed only with a banjo and a bass drum can be a formidable force, especially if his name is William Elliott Whitmore. On the new Anti- Records album FIELD SONGS, Whitmore uses this two-instrument attack to go straight to the source, leaving no doubt where he comes from. William comes from the land, growing up on a farm in Lee County, Iowa, at the southeastern tip of the state, between the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers. “It’s some of the most fertile land in the world,” Whitmore proudly proclaims. Still living on the same farm today, Whitmore has truly taken the time to discover where his center lies. From that he will not be moved. With his powerful voice and honest approach he makes his claim, and when the eight tracks that make up FIELDSONGS end there is no doubt this is someone who will be heard. Where he comes from says a lot about where William Elliott Whitmore is going. Whitmore’s father played the guitar and his mother the accordion; both grandparents were also musicians, and he never had to go far to discover great new music. “My parents’ record collection was amazing and inspiring,” Whitmore remembers. “It included everything from the country mu... more...