SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — For the past few days, our stories about Williams and Ree and the passing of Terry Ree on Saturday have been the most viewed here on KELOLAND.com.
On Monday, KELOLAND’s Tom Hanson had the pleasure of having a long conversation with Bruce Williams. We wanted to share more of that interview as we talked about their connection to South Dakota and how they went from college buddies to national music and comedy stars.
“We shared most of our Christmases and Thanksgivings and all of that, we were quite close,” said Williams.
After 5 decades of traveling the country with his partner, this will be Bruce William’s first Christmas without Terry Ree. The two teamed up during freshman year of college at Black Hills State in Spearfish when Terry’s roommate invited Bruce and his guitar to their dorm room.
“I went down there and we started picking and singing together and never stopped after that,” said Williams who also talked about how well they naturally harmonized.
Success didn’t come overnight. They worked small venues honing their act.
“BINGO, BINGO, BINGO, BINGO but no no more in Flandreau. B-19 B-19 B-19. If you are caught in a car late at night near Veblen you better be 19!”
Williams says it was Keloland that gave them their first big break.
“Doug Lund from Keloland gave us a shot on his show 30, had us on his show back in I think 1977. He gave us a big boost and from that we got untold bookings and that elevated us to the next level right there.”
Williams lives in Nashville now, and at age 74 is still busy performing. For the last three years, he has been playing in a band called Fran Moran and the Nervous Wrecks, opening for Billy Bob Thornton’s band called the Boxmasters.
“It’s the fountain of youth for me because I’m 74 years old and I’m playing rock and roll,” said Williams.
Maybe one of the reasons Williams and Ree are so beloved in this part of the country is because they come home often to perform.
“Because that was where we started, and that humor started out of the Dakotas. and people got it,” said Williams.
“They understood it, said Bruce. “You know they understood the struggle of the native people you know and all we did was try to set relations back about a hundred years,” said Williams with a smile.
Making people laugh is a gift. A gift Bruce says his partner acknowledged before he died.
“The other night he ah gave me props for making him laugh for 56 years and that was quite nice,” said Williams. “We loved each other no matter what. It was like a marriage although it had never been consummated. I loved him and at times, he loved me, and at times we didn’t get along at all, but thank goodness we had our families.”
He says during his last visit with Terry a group of friends and family sang songs, laughed, prayed and told stories, often about their days on the road performing. He will no doubt miss his friend.
“My phone and my iPad have been lighting up with people giving their condolences about Terry and I want them to know that means a lot.”
