William Fitzsimmons - 2016

Beloved bearded singer/songwriter WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS returns with new music this spring. Following last year’s mini-album Pittsburgh he now announced its sequel called Charleroi: Pittsburgh Volume 2 for a release on April the 1st. And once again the charismatic musician picked a personal background for his new release as explains the content in a press release:

Charleroi is the second half of the Pittsburgh story. The Pittsburgh album was about the grandmother I knew. Charleroi is about the one I never did.   My father was returned to the hospital as an infant, ill with whooping cough. He was left there for several months as an orphan. Finally, he was adopted by a kind doctor who became his father. Never knowing his birth family it was assumed that mystery would always remain.

In 2015, after over 60 years of wondering and waiting, the family was finally found.  Having been mistakenly told that my father died in infancy, he was never sought out by the remainder of his biological family. Sadly his mother passed away several years before having a chance to ever see her son again.  Her name was Thelma and she was my grandmother. She was from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. These songs are about her.

You can listen to a first new piece called People Change Their Minds right here. And don’t forget to also read our 2014 interview with the sweet gentleman as well.


WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS