GENIUS SEARCH

     My choice of these individuals is anchored in the depth and breadth of these gentlemen's genius, but also in the sheer number of years these gifts have been offered up. Persistence has got to count for something, and great persistence. . . even more.

     Mr. Williams is a gentleman and artist who, in my opinion, is even more malleable and ever-changing than his name. Other than going by the name, Woody Williams, he has also gone by names like Barry Williams, Wood Williams, Magellan, James Woodard Williams (his given name) and Birdy. There may even be a few more with which he has experimented.

Woody Williams is a true renaissance man in the best sense of the term. His extraordinary talents include poetry, graphic arts, music composition, inventing, musicianship and philanthropy. These could use a little more explanation, so please allow me to continue.

Williams (now in his late 40s) has lived an almost monk-like life ever since the age of 15, when he decided to move into the shed which stood in the back of his parents' house. Since that time he has spent no less than three hours every day doing his art.

First working with the crudest of instruments, then building up a collection of instruments over years, Williams lays down track after track of music, quite like Mozart might squeeze a lemon. . . and the sheer volume of music alone should have won him worldwide acclaim -- and yet Williams, ever vigilant to maintain his non-egocentric stance -- sacrificed fame. . . for Art.

The range Mr. Williams has shown is astonishing. Jazz, Classical, World Music, New Age, Country-Western, Folk, Rock, Film Music. . . there is no genre unturned by this insatiable genius, whose songs total over 600.

It is a strange irony that his first taste of recognition came when the American Poetry Anthology published his poem, Savantified Waif, which can be found in universities around the world, including the Sorbonne in Paris. He has over 400 poems to his name.

In his professional life, he has earned money from his ample visual talents, and some of his jingles and radio plays have made it to stations as well-known as WBT, where, among other things, he wrote a jingle for Hello Henry, and even wrote the theme song for Charlotte, which Henry Bogan often played on his show. He also appeared on the John-Boy and Billy Show as Fast Freddy.

All who know Mr. Williams, know his philanthropic spirit. One of his fondest acts was (and is) that of giving anonymous gifts.

One of his ballads had this as a theme. He saw this as a simple way to bring joy into people's lives, and he was all about doing just that.

In keeping with the spirit of that gesture, I would personally like to extend an offer to any who might be reading this, that, while giving, Mr. Williams has not taken unto himself the tools that would allow his light to shine to its brightest glow.

If you would like to contact Mr. Williams, or leave an anonymous gift, I would be happy to pass along his address, if you would simply email me at Charlott@sprynet.com.

Again, a big congratulations to Woody Williams, winner of the 1997 Genius Search Award.

1998 Winners:

• Jonathan McVity for his contribution to Political Philosophy and Education.
• Dr. Martin Raskovsky of Oxford University for his Remarkable Artistic Vision
• Garrick Wells for his contribution to Computer and Web Arts.
• Ms. Lorraine Ferrier for her contribution to the healing arts.
• Rob Urban for his contribution to Journalism.
• Ms. Laura Spector for her contribution to Performance Art.
• Ken Phillips for his contribution to the Internet, and the wise use thereof, as most notably shown in his popular and timely Hurricane Awareness page of 1996.
• Paul Ortolano and Steven Zocchi for their contributions to Music.

     GENIUS SEARCH, the brainchild of Virtual Bohemia's webmaster and bodhissattva, Dave Beckwith, represents a lifetime of research on the taxonomy of human expression. Simply put, GENIUS SEARCH is the engine whereby our most precious (and largely untapped) resource -- genius -- finds a welcoming home, but perhaps more importantly. . . friends.
If you know someone you'd like to nominate for our AMAZING GENIUSES list, from which will be nominated the GENIUS OF THE YEAR. . . who will receive all the gifts and recognition that goes along with the title. . .
let us know!
Please include:
NAME OF NOMINEE
CONTACT INFO ON NOMINEE
REASON FOR NOMINATION

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
EMAIL ADDRESS

If your nominee is chosen as GENIUS OF THE YEAR. . . BOTH you and your nominee will receive recognition (as well as some swell gifts!), Recognizing genius. . .it turns out. . .is a form of genius!
DON'T WAIT!
If you're smart, you SURROUND yourself with smart people. Send us your smartest, your wisest, your most ingenious. . .and we will help them achieve their visions.

Why Is GENIUS SEARCH?
GENIUS SEARCH is NOT the MacArthur Foundation. The recipients of the so-called "Genius Award" are almost always ALREADY well on their way to greatness, and typically have the funding to back them.
We are not so interested in those who don't really need the help.
We are looking for those gifted souls who are not necessarily so well represented or established.
We want to help those who need the help, those who could benefit the most from such recognition.
Of course, recognition is not all we are about. Gifts and awards will be lavished upon the winners, and the nature of these will be customized to fit the needs of the winners.
For example, if someone would benefit most by having a computer or synthesizer, say, it would be less than optimal to give them any other than a computer or synthesizer.
Ideally, the award will go far toward making the recipient self-sufficient. . .and thus no longer dependent on doing unnecessary -- and, in fact, wasteful -- work, enabling the recipient to concentrate on developing his or her particular genius.

In an Information Age, information is King . . . and Queen. And those with special information are particularly noble. Join the noble task of rewarding these national -- nay global -- treasures.