ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — A public fundraiser is scheduled for January 18th at the Flora-Bama to assist a popular local musician in need of a heart transplant.

A reunion show by 90s rockers 'MisterX' has been added to the entertainment lineup for the event. Members John Anthony and Lewis Ross were founding members of Wet Willie. The MisterX set is scheduled for 2:30 pm in support of the benefit for popular musician and heart transplant prospect Brian Williams.

When it comes to music, specifically in the gospel field, famed local drummer/producer Brian Williams has truly seen it and done it all. Originally hailing from New Orleans’ 9th Ward long before Katrina made that part of the Crescent City infamous, Brian grew up playing music on first the streets — and then in the clubs — in a city that requires boys to become men early on if they are to make it on those storied stages.

And make it he did, leaving his strong mark as a grooving back-beat drummer in those jazz and blues laden haunts.

Discovered by Quincy Jones when he was just a teen, Williams was flown to L.A. to work with the famous producer as a session drummer. Brian moved on from there to Jackson (Miss.) where he began an incredible journey in gospel music as first a drummer, and later as producer, on many gospel hits with big time artists like Mississippi Mass Choir, Bebe and CeCe Winans, The Jackson Southernaires, Andraé Crouch and many, many others.

Williams parlayed that achievement into starting his own label, Glorious Records (now Glorious Music Group), and had continued achievements and even Grammy nominations for artists including Kim Stratton, Daniel Winans, and Tina Farbrique.

When the music business lulled in the late ‘90’s, Brian moved to south Alabama to work with gospel industry giant Integrity, based in Mobile. Brian fell in love with the area and ultimately made it his full-time home.

After leaving Integrity and his many years of grinding in the music industry, Brian found a warm welcome on the stages around the Gulf Coast area with local favorites like Triple Threat and Rhythm Intervention.

Brian later married Bayside Academy volleyball coach Monique Adams, who had skyrocketed from a local athletic career back in the 80’s as a superstar at McGill-Toolen to a scholarship and record-setting stint at LSU, then on to international domination playing for world-class teams in western Europe and around the world.

They were a beautiful, vibrant, loving and well-loved couple. But . . .

In early 2014, tragedy struck the Williams' household when Brian fell ill and spent several months going in and out of area hospitals while they tried to find what was causing multiple maladies including intense pain and discomfort, accompanied by fluid retention and shortness of breath — and ultimately, congestive heart failure.

Though only in his early 50’s and appearing to be in great physical condition, even able to still pound out a solid groove on the drums for four hour shows night after night in the hot humid south, Brian’s heart was compromised.

Unfortunately the only cure was to get a new one.

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In the past several months, Brian went through a battery of tests and regimens in Birmingham and is now on the donor list for a heart. It is his only chance at survival.

Brian is now medically unable to work. Their insurance falls short of meeting his many medical needs and they are stretched beyond thin just meeting the basics of their household. And still with kids in college to support as well.

We are reaching out to the community on his behalf, and asking for a helping hand to get Brian through this hardship until a match is found and his heart transplant is realized.

A benefit event is taking place at the Flora-bama January 18, 2015, on the very stage where Brian and his group Rhythm Intervention entertained the masses for many shows in the recent past. We come together there with all his musical brothers and sisters on the coast to support him with an afternoon of music and giving. And we invite you to come join us and to give in the name of love to a good man who has lost his financial footing in the face of medical hardship.

He has given us so much good music over the years. We are honor-bound to pay him back in kind.

Donations will be accepted via cash or credit card at the event and you can contribute online at this site: gofundme.com/brianwilliams