Just over two years ago, Joy Williams and John Paul White were maintaining separate and fairly successful solo careers. Williams had been singing since her teenage years, had a number of hits in the Inspirational (i.e. Christian) genre and scored a number of Dove Award nominations, but had tired of the category’s constraints and was looking to branch out. White had established himself as a rising singer/songwriter, recording an album for Capitol at the same time as the label’s massive layoffs, but he was hopeful for the future.
“She grew up singing in churches, I grew up singing in bars,” White says while grinning wryly during a conference call.
“Yin and yang,” Williams says.
Neither one was looking for a collaboration, so naturally that’s exactly what transpired. Ironically, they both nearly turned their backs on the opportunity to create the Civil Wars, their record-breaking Americana duo and possibly the greatest musical accomplishment for either of them.
The Civil Wars perform Thursday at 20th Century Theater with Arum Rae. Go here to read Brian Baker’s full interview.
This article appears in Mar 23-29, 2011.