Jack Williams of High Bridge receives Bernie Worrell Scholarship in Music/Performing Arts

Guitarist Jack Williams of High Bridge has received the $1,000 Bernie Worrell Scholarship in Music/Performing Arts for 2011. The money was raised by the 3rd Annual Local & Legend Music Festival. Williams, 22, is a student at Raritan Valley Community College. He has been playing guitar since he took his first guitar class in his junior year at Voorhees High School. While his favorite styles of music are funk and jazz - funky jass is his favorite to play - he says, "I was happy to get this award from Bernie as I've been listening to his work since high school. Some of my favorites are his work with Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie's Brains and original Parliament/Funkadelic."

Williams' biggest musical influence is guitarist Trey Anastasio. He says, "I had always been a huge fan of music in general, but it was Trey's work with Phish that really inspired me to pursue a career in music seriously." Williams' goal is to pursue a career in performance, focusing on experimental open-ended improvisational jamming. He also plans to focus on obtaining a degree in music theory and composition, leading to a position as a college-level music teacher.

David Cudworth receives Music Scholarship
from Rock n'Roll Hall of Famer, Bernie Worrell

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Bernie Worrell, has played all kinds of music in his lifetime. And so it would make sense that an individual with a varied musical resume would be this year's recipient of the "Bernie Worrell Music Scholarship" from the Local & Legend Music Festival, an affiliate of Worrell's non-profit organization, World Of Originality, Inc.

The musical talents of David Cudworth of Whitehouse Station run the gamut. He plays guitar in his church, saxophone with his college jazz ensemble, and guitar for a rock band. On occasion he plays drums, bass guitar and the music major at Raritan Valley Community College is currently taking piano lessons.

Local and Legend is an organization devoted to aspiring young musical/performing talent and helping them with scholarships. Cudworth is about to enter his final year at Raritan Valley Community College. He intends to enroll in a 4-year college as a major in Music once he graduates from RVCC. Worrell presented Cudworth with a scholarship check at a brief ceremony at the college in December.

Cutworth isn't the only one with a pretty impressive - and growing - resume.

Worrell is internationally recognized as one of the world's greatest Master Keyboardists. He is a founding member of original Parliament/Funkadelic and keyboard wizard whose liquid lines deftly steered P-Funk straight to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Besides his critically-acclaimed tenure with Talking Heads, Bernie's long list of collaborators has included Keith Richards, Buckethead, Jack Bruce, The Pretenders, Bill Laswell, The Last Poets, Les Claypool (Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains), Dave Stewart, and Gov't Mule. One of his newest collaboration is SociaLybrium whose debut album was released in 2010. In addition, he recently partnered with his protege, bassist Wes Santo, to form WesNWorrell, and their debut album, "We Told Ya", will be released in January, 2011. And "Bernie Worrell: Standards" - Bernie's interpretation on Jazz favorites, will be released on CMH Records in 2011.

Funds for the organization are raised through its Annual "Local & Legend Music Festival"; the 3rd Annual of which is scheduled for Saturday June 25 at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, NJ. All proceeds from the event provide scholarships for students pursuing a career in Music and/or the Performing Arts. For further information (bands/vendors/volunteers) about Local & Legend, visit http://localandlegend.com or email info@localandlegend.com.