The Seal Breakers Interview
The Seal Breakers Interview
By Imani Daniel
Pastor’s son, drummer, musician, and businessman…these are just a few of the words that Craig Williams uses to describe himself. After meeting with him one chilly Thursday evening at his home church, Greater St. Stephen’s in Brooklyn, NY, I’m adding visionary, minister & mentor to the list. For the past 11 years, serving as founder of the group The Seal Breakers, Williams has proven influential in the lives of young, African-American men and he’s just getting started. Following the recent release of his EP, Craig sat down to talk with Root Magazine on where the Seal Breakers have been, where they are now and most importantly, where he envisions they are going.
Root: How did The Seal Breakers come to be?
Craig Williams: When I was 16 years old, I met Bishop Hezekiah Walker Love Fellowship Tabernacle at a church service. The drummer scheduled to play that evening didn’t show up and I filled in. The relationship developed from there and I started to tour with him. That opportunity opened the door for countless others, including working with music executive Stanley Brown on the New Jack City Soundtrack, which afforded me a career in the hip hop arena. I always knew I was called to something different but ran from the “Pastor’s Kid” life. At the time, I felt like ministry was expected of me purely by lineage.
After the passing of Notorious B.I.G. in 1997 who I had worked with, I surrendered my life to the Lord and accepted my calling as a youth minister. Biggie’s death and the influx of violence in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY caused me to see the need for positive influences for our young people.
I grew up in a musical household and developed an early fascination with brass music. After accepting the call on my life, I asked God for direction on how to bring together what I loved and how he was leading me. My older brother gave me the horn he no longer played and I began teaching myself how to play. Without any formal training, I mastered a few songs and later had the privilege of learning from greats like Clarence “Uncle Sunny” Holt. I started a Cadet group with 6 young men, offering military training & history lessons to supplement their formal education. The group gave them a sense of comradery, accountability and allowed them to be around positive influences. Today, we have grown to 14 members with countless success stories.
RM: Why the name ‘The Seal Breakers’?
Craig Williams: We were originally called The Eagles. For fear of copyright infringement by the famed rock group The Eagles; I renamed the group in 2011 once we got ready to record. I had been seeking the Lord for direction on a new name. On a trip to the Bronx to minister for Dr. Michelle White’s conference, he gave me the answer I was looking for. That evening, I met Dr. Jamal Bryant. He was so impressed with the band that we exchanged information and decided to keep in touch. A few days later I received a call from Dr. Bryant. He said he had been in prayer and God instructed him on the name of the band. He shared Revelations 8, which speaks of the sound of the trumpet opening seals and then simply said “The Seal Breakers” that is who y’all are. I had never mentioned to Dr. Bryant that we were looking to change our name.
This divine encounter wasn’t just the beginning of a change for the group, but served as the catalyst for an internal transformation for Craig. It was a maturation of the ministry and the music. Immediately, The Seal Breakers began incorporating different genres of music all the while keeping brass as their foundation, like in their hit single ‘None Like You’ featuring Jason Hendrickson.
RM: Who are your musical influences?
Craig Williams: WOW! There are so many…Wyclef, Wynton Marsallis, The Roots, Kirk Franklin, J. Moss, Kim Burrell, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, JJ Johnson, Shoutband (a traditional brass band from the South), Greg Patton, Kenny Carr and Edward Babb, to name a few.
RM: You’ve been in ministry with The Seal Breakers for over 10 years. What are some of the testimonies on how the group has helped the young men?
Craig Williams: We deal with diverse personalities & different backgrounds. Many of the young men are from the Bedford-Stuyvesant community and they come to us with all the challenges that environment brings. We provide discipline. The required commitment is rehearsal twice a week, bible study on Tuesday night and church on Friday & Sunday. They must be active members of a ministry, as we believe this helps keep them focused and so far, our approach has worked.
One horn player struggled with his academics in school for years. Through the music and his commitment to the group, his grades started improving. He currently works for the NYC Fire Dept. One band member was a troubled teen with a history of encounters with the law. A mandatory rehearsal one evening saved him from the bullet that killed his best friend. We were able to connect another band member with a tutor who helped get him through High School. He went on to study at Medgar Evers College on a music scholarship. Other band members are students at Johnson C. Smith and Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Their involvement with us opens up so many doors to experiences they’ve never had; like eating at fine restaurants or communicating with political figures. One band member had never worn a suit. A photo shoot with the band was the first time he had seen himself dressed up. In that moment, he was proud of his appearance. We’re proud of our young men. We serve as surrogate fathers for many of the band members. The band becomes an extended family for many of them.
RM: To date, where have The Seal Breakers performed?
Craig Williams: We perform at a lot of Civic functions with Ed Towns, Marty Markowitz and Annette Robinson. We’ve been to Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, giving band members an opportunity to travel beyond “their hood”. We’re currently developing some west coast opportunities and prayerfully extending God’s sound in us overseas in France. Our single is currently being played there.
RM: What is your vision for the continued success of the group?
Craig Williams: My heart will always be connected to building and strengthening young African American men. We need it in our communities, in our churches, (and) in our culture. So this is necessary- it’s important. I want to convey that being a man and loving God is the way to go. The strongest man is the one with Jesus in his life. I will continue to encourage them to accept “the burden of representation” by being lights of God’s truth and representing his Kingdom.
I want this group to show that none of our journeys thru life are wasted time because God is able to redeem all of it. That is the message I want to get across to young men. It’s never too late. God is able. He can still use you.
RM: What’s next for you guys?
Craig Williams: We’re doing a project of covers from some of today’s biggest names in gospel music. We’re releasing a video to our single ‘None Like You’ and touring this summer.
Long term, we’re working to develop a full marching band. We’re in the process of securing funding now, as that is a major undertaking. I see The Seal Breakers as a group that will emerge in the tradition of Parliament Funkadelic. We are all individually gifted and I want everyone to flourish in their abilities but still be able to come together and work. I’ve got classical trombonists and jazz trombonists. I want their individual musical expressions to emerge. I’d like to put them out as leaders of their own groups; all under the heading of The Seal Breakers.
RM: Will the seal breakers ever welcome female members?
Craig Williams: It’s funny you ask that. I think when I started the band in 2001 young men presented the most prevalent need. I’m not adverse to the idea at all. We’ve actually tried in the past, but it just didn’t pan out. So we’ll see…If they come, great!
RM: Where can people purchase the album?
Itunes, Amazon & CD Baby
For booking TSB
Facebook.com/thesealbreakers
Twitter @thesealbreakers
