Daily Inspiration: Meet William Washington

Today we’d like to introduce you to William Washington. 

Hi William, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started out wanting to play the saxophone, but when my mother came home, she said, “We ain’t got no saxophone money, you’re gonna learn this trombone,” and it has been history ever since. I saw Porkchop on the show Doug Funnie playing the sax, and I wanted to be like him. I didn’t understand the power of music and how it allowed me to see things that a Black boy wouldn’t usually get to. I learned about my ancestors, and music gave me a historical foundation that I wouldn’t otherwise get. 

I spent my life trying to emulate the greats, only to end up sounding more like myself. I found music becoming a reflection of my heart and the world I experienced. It is my first love and allowed me to remove barriers that I wasn’t even aware of. I had issues reading growing up, stuttering problems, and a very low and quiet talker. Learning the trombone gave me a second voice, something many Blacks don’t get to have. I found with music; there was a level of healing as well. Emotionally articulating my voice gave me a level of human compassion and emotional intelligence that wanted to see how big this world was…or better yet, how small I indeed was. I didn’t always understand what I felt, but I had a way to get it out or get out of myself. 

I found great teachers that would give me mentorship and perspective since I could not afford lessons, yet they would pass down their wisdom, giving me a level of musicianship and showmanship that could not be taught in school. I found myself in this world of sound, and it was an answer to an unsaid prayer. I ended up going to college, educating what I was passionate about. 

Today, I am in the space and position to give back to the community and be a face for any person looking to be heard. Without listening, our stories wouldn’t matter, and music is a conduit. I stand as someone that speaks about the world yet uplifts the power of joy and compassion. 

Music healed me, and I want to heal others too. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles were the loss of innocence in my artistic development because of my economic status, self-awareness, and home issues. Although I am seen as exciting on stage and with others, many dark moments forced me to choose the attitude I needed to get through for the day. 

Seeing friends buy new instruments yearly, go to musical concerts, and have the time to get developed with teachers at young ages, I window shopped my experience and made sure I had my CD player as my teacher. I did get noticed by a few teachers that changed my life, but it was not an easy road. I would wake up to darker moments, witnessing abuse and not understanding the pain I went through, not being able to process “Why.” I needed an outlet, someone to give me the time needed to feel seen. My trauma attached to sound. 

Music has allowed me to find comfort in my dark as much as my light. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My brand is “Mind & Music.” 

I am a licensed professional clinical counselor that specializes in the holistic application. I specialize in hypnotherapy and enhancing lifestyle adjustments while alleviating emotional distress. I am known for my excitement and ability to ignite a stage while giving the environment a sense of community. I am highly interactive with fans and believe that healing happens every moment we breathe. 

What sets me apart is that breathing is the first step into unity, followed by listening. When I perform with others, I see their sound as a reflection of their story, and I actively pursue listening to ensure our stories are never missed. I believe the more you tell your story, the less you become of it. 

I am currently the Washington Wellness Institute owner, which focuses on holistic healing. I am a leader of Da Land Brass Band that plays music throughout Cleveland and Akron to provide inclusive community awareness and live shows. I am also a member of internationally renowned Mourning [A] Blkstar, based in Cleveland, Ohio. I am also the executive director of ViewUnity Inc., a non-profit dedicated to charity, community, and content creation. We have teams of different types of artists that come together to create for charities in an inclusive space. 

I say all this to explain that my music isn’t just for the stage, it is a way of life. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is playing video games or watching TV shows/movies, listening to the soundtracks. I would play for hours, memorizing entire game albums. I LOVED theme songs, and in the ’80s and ’90s, the quality of a show was dependent upon how good the theme songs were. I can still sing some of them (Magnum P.I. was ahead of its time, I will argue with anyone on that. And the Sonic 1 & 2 soundtrack, is to this day, a jazz album, it’s not up for debate). I also loved theater and watching the pit perform. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@wwillc.org and infoviewunity@gmail.com
• Website: washingtonwellnessinstitute.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wash_wellness/, https://www.instagram.com/dalandbrassband/, and www.instagram.com/mourningablkstar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonwellnessinstitute, https://www.facebook.com/ViewUnitygaming, https://www.facebook.com/DaLandBrassBand/, and https://www.facebook.com/MourningABLKstar
• Twitter: @TheBlkMrRogers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCej9XzekQ7T97L8xzkV-IPA/about and  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeSBptrNDeuI4nf6xc6HUMw

Image Credits
Jeff Janis
Kamron Khan
Christian Amuli