Yardley Williams is a Los Angeles native who’s knowledge of music and entertainment runs deep. Daughter of Music Executive/Co-Founder of Higher Ground 44 Aileen Randolph and WNBA coach Fred Williams, Yardley’s upbringing was one that was unique and fun. Yardley’s family has an extensive history in the entertainment industry.
Her mother – long time Music Executive/Co-Founder of Higher Ground 44 Aileen Randolph and her sister – Music Executive/Co-Founder of Higher Ground 44 Madeline Randolph have been pioneers in the industry for over 40 years. Working with icons such as Quincy Jones, Barry Gordy, Jerry Moss, Herb Alpert to name a few.
Her father Fred Williams – who is a pioneer in women’s basketball and won two NCAA basketball championships with USC in the 1980’s – recruiting Hall of Famers such as Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, The McGee Twins to name a few. He also drafted WNBA superstars such as Skylar Diggins-Smith, Liz Cambage when he was Head Coach for the Dallas Wings. Now he’s the First Assistant Head Coach for the Los Angeles Sparks. But her father Fred is also a self-taught musician who’s fluent in playing six different instruments and also records and mixes his own music which consists of jazz fusion.
Her grandfather – James “Big Jim” Randolph was the first black prime-time disc jockey on a pop station in the American south. That transitioned him into becoming the International Director of Tracy Broadcasting. He was also instrumental in breaking the musical careers of legends such as James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Sam Cooke. Growing up in this environment sparked Yardley’s interest in following her family’s footsteps in pursuing a career in the music industry.
At the age of seventeen, she started producing instrumentals with her cousin music producer Gage Brown and her love for music blossomed. She started teaching herself how to mix and master songs along with studying an array of musical genres. A few years later she, along with her cousin Gage – started an internship with Laney Stewart of Stewart Music Group. Yardley learned the ins and outs of the music business and how to conduct everything from a professional point of view. After Yardley’s tenure with Stewart Music Group, she started working independently with her cousin Gage to create a sound of music that’s genre bending and musically forward.
Yardley since has mixed several projects for up-and-coming artists as well as legendary singer Howard Johnson, and most recently co-executive produced Gage’s debut album ‘Nocturnal’. Now as Music Director of Higher Ground 44, Yardley Williams is expanding her knowledge of music to a company that is all about pushing culture forward.
