Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Yankees Outfielder Releases Jazz Album

Aired August 03, 2003 - 08:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Outfielder Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees, he's a big hit on the field and also off the field as well. He's just released a new jazz album and it's winning praise from fans and professional musicians. CNN's Josie Burke reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Playing his first concert to promote his debut album, the little known guitarist experienced a normal reaction. Bernie Williams was nervous.

BERNIE WILLIAMS, BASEBALL PLAYER: I remember in high school going to music high school, having to perform in front of, you know, the teachers and, you know, the students, but it was just high school, you know? This was like I'm the front man and, you know, wherever I go, everybody goes with me.

BURKE: The nerves came on this night at Chicago's House of Blues, even though Williams is accustomed to performing in front of a crowd. This is the Bernie Williams fans are used to seeing. The former batting champion, the gold glove outfielder, the all-star member of the New York Yankees.

WILLIAMS: I didn't think that anybody had, you know, the slightest idea of how important music is in my life, except for the people that really know me.

BURKE: The people who really know music could tell right away. Williams wrote seven of the 11 tracks on his album titled "The Journey Within," which was released last month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew him as a baseball player and I had heard from different people that he was a guitarist. And you hear that all the time, though, about people and actors and athletes that all like to play. He's first one I've ever worked with who could really could definitely have a career at this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not playing like "Feelings." He's doing original stuff. And original doesn't mean it's not good. His is original and good.

BURKE: Williams once dreamed of a career as a musician and even attended a music high school on scholarship growing up in Puerto Rico. At the same time, he showed just as much promise on the diamond. And when Williams had to pick, he chose to play baseball for a living and guitar for fun. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if you ask Bernie, baseball is secondary, to be honest with you. I mean, that's how god gifted he is when it comes to, you know, his musical talents.

BURKE: Now at 34, Williams has an album that made the billboard top 200 list, a deal with Paul McCartney's company to place his songs in film, television, and advertising, along with another chance to win another pennant.

WILLIAMS: You know painters like think in colors. I think musicians play -- you know they think in melodies and musical ideas. Every major event that has happened in my life I have a melody for it, and it's kind of weird. But that's the way it goes, I guess.

BURKE: With so many big events occurring all at once, Williams can find plenty of inspiration. For CNN Sports, I'm Josie Burke.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 3, 2003 - 08:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Outfielder Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees, he's a big hit on the field and also off the field as well. He's just released a new jazz album and it's winning praise from fans and professional musicians. CNN's Josie Burke reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Playing his first concert to promote his debut album, the little known guitarist experienced a normal reaction. Bernie Williams was nervous.

BERNIE WILLIAMS, BASEBALL PLAYER: I remember in high school going to music high school, having to perform in front of, you know, the teachers and, you know, the students, but it was just high school, you know? This was like I'm the front man and, you know, wherever I go, everybody goes with me.

BURKE: The nerves came on this night at Chicago's House of Blues, even though Williams is accustomed to performing in front of a crowd. This is the Bernie Williams fans are used to seeing. The former batting champion, the gold glove outfielder, the all-star member of the New York Yankees.

WILLIAMS: I didn't think that anybody had, you know, the slightest idea of how important music is in my life, except for the people that really know me.

BURKE: The people who really know music could tell right away. Williams wrote seven of the 11 tracks on his album titled "The Journey Within," which was released last month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew him as a baseball player and I had heard from different people that he was a guitarist. And you hear that all the time, though, about people and actors and athletes that all like to play. He's first one I've ever worked with who could really could definitely have a career at this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not playing like "Feelings." He's doing original stuff. And original doesn't mean it's not good. His is original and good.

BURKE: Williams once dreamed of a career as a musician and even attended a music high school on scholarship growing up in Puerto Rico. At the same time, he showed just as much promise on the diamond. And when Williams had to pick, he chose to play baseball for a living and guitar for fun. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if you ask Bernie, baseball is secondary, to be honest with you. I mean, that's how god gifted he is when it comes to, you know, his musical talents.

BURKE: Now at 34, Williams has an album that made the billboard top 200 list, a deal with Paul McCartney's company to place his songs in film, television, and advertising, along with another chance to win another pennant.

WILLIAMS: You know painters like think in colors. I think musicians play -- you know they think in melodies and musical ideas. Every major event that has happened in my life I have a melody for it, and it's kind of weird. But that's the way it goes, I guess.

BURKE: With so many big events occurring all at once, Williams can find plenty of inspiration. For CNN Sports, I'm Josie Burke.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com