Watching as client Bernie Williams captivated audiences with his original jazz guitar offerings during last week's All-Star festivities, baseball agent Scott Boras couldn't help slipping into hyperbolic overdrive.
"The last two days," Boras said, "have changed Bernie's life forever."
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| Williams’ CD, “The Journey Within” |
Athletes crossing over into music isn't anything new. But Boras, long a critic of attempts to cross-pollinate sports with movies and music, insists that this venture is different.
"We're not talking about some guy doing an endorsement deal here," said Boras, whose marketing division, Impact Sports, is helping to promote the project. "This wasn't done for the advancement of his fame or notoriety. This man studied music for 15 or 16 years and has composed. This is not about an exterior. This is about the thread of who this man is. If you're going to represent Bernie Williams and talk about what his soul is, this is it."
Williams' debut CD "The Journey Within," released last week by smooth jazz label GRP Records, includes seven original tracks, with supporting performances by an array of established artists, including Grammy-winning singer Ruben Blades and jazz banjo player Bela Fleck.
The label timed the release to coincide with the All-Star Game and got additional pop because Williams, who has been slowed by injuries this season, did not make the roster. As a result, he was free to perform Sunday night at a pre-release party and again Monday night at MLB's All-Star gala.
Kraft Foods, which uses Williams as an endorser, sponsored a Bernie Williams CD night at Yankee Stadium last week. YES Network plans to air a musical special featuring Williams in the coming weeks, with a DVD release scheduled to follow it.
