How Paramore’s singer revived her grandad’s lost album

As the lead singer of American rock band Paramore, Hayley Williams has won three Grammy Awards and toured the world. Behind the scenes, her grandad Rusty has been her biggest supporter and musical hero, nurturing her childhood passion and later her career. Rusty is the one who taught Hayley how to play the drums and the piano. He even followed Paramore’s tour bus around the US in his car with Hayley’s grandmother, his childhood sweetheart Sharon.

It turns out this very sentimental member of Paramore’ s entourage was so supportive of his granddaughter’s ambitions in part because his own attempt to make it as a musician was cut short. In the 1970s, Rusty sent his demo recordings to a music boss in Nashville who wanted him to mould his soul-inspired songs into the country music genre. Disillusioned, Rusty ended up quitting the music industry, and got a job in a lumber yard and eventually ran a store installing car stereos. He focused on being a father and a provider for his family. For 50 years, his songs lay hidden on a collection of old tapes, gathering dust. That is until Rusty’s long-lost recordings were rediscovered, and the dreams he’d packed away and long forgotten were revived – with the help of his granddaughter. This time around, Rusty gets his big break - and releases his debut album, Grand Man, at the age of 79.

Presenter: Asya Fouks

Producer: Elena Angelides and Maryam Maruf

Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A collage of four photos on an orange background. Clockwise from left: a recent photo of Rusty and Hayley Williams; a photo of Frank in the 1970s playing a guitar; a photo of Hayley as a child with Rusty; a photo of Hayley singing on stage during Taylor Swift's Era's Tour in London. Credit: Rusty Williams/Getty Images)