By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“Welcome to my world,” says Chet Willows as he strums the first notes on his guitar.

As the main act of the monthly country-western night at Brooksby, Willows has clearly done this before. In fact, he has entertained audiences with his stage presence and precise renditions of songs by well-known singers for the past four years.

Reviving favorites
On a recent Tuesday night, Willows prepared a program of about 30 songs, two-thirds Hank Williams and one-third Johnny Cash. “I’m going to try to do the music the way they would have done it,” he said to his audience of about 30 people in Brooksby’s Cider House Pub.

 In a soft, unwavering voice, Willows got the crowd going with songs like Williams’ “Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used to Do?” and Cash’s “Flesh and Blood,” one of Willows’ favorites.

Anna Folkerts, who lives at Brooksby and is a regular at Willows’  performances, says of his musical selections: “We grew up with them, and they’re very special to us. We’re very lucky to have Chet.”

Willows has accompaniment from Ted Good, a staple of the Brooksby music scene, and regular guest appearances by the “J and J twins,” Jerry Shulman and John Lamb, who play western songs on the guitar. As he follows his set list, Willows stops briefly between songs to ad-lib with  rivia and joke about the songs’ similar themes, introducing one as a “real tearjerker . . . not that the other ones are knee-slappers.”

Setting the mood 
Th e music may be sad, but the mood is light in the lounge, where listeners have gathered after dinner to hear Willows play. “They’re very good,” says Maria Coccia, who lives at Brooksby. “Music is therapy.”

Also sitting up front for the show was Willows’ wife, Miriam, who he says encouraged him to do more with his music.

“There were people here who were interested in country and western,” Chet Willows recalls. “My wife sort of pushed me to do this . . . we did it, and it was pretty successful, and it’s gotten more [popular].”