Steve Hackett’s “Matilda Smith-Williams” Song
Place names have inspired songs as diverse as the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” and Simon & Garfunkel’s version of the traditional ballad “Scarborough Fair” — as well as former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s salute to a Bermuda senior citizens residence, “Matilda Smith-Williams Home For The Aged.”
The song appeared on “Till We Have Faces” in 1984, Mr. Hackett’s eighth solo album which fused rock with elements of world music.
The majority of the album was recorded in Brazil, while the final mixing was done in London. The name of the album comes from a novel by C.S.Lewis, whose work is a long-time influence on Mr. Hackett.
British singer-songwriter Mr. Hackett was inspired by the name of the Devonshire senior citizens home during a trip to the island in the early ’80s. Founded in 1963 by Bernice Cann, Ida J. Smith, Helena Williams and Isabel Ratteray, the Matilda Smith-Williams seniors residence is a private organisation which falls under the auspices of the trustees of the Bermuda Conference AME Churches.
He first gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career. He contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums and seven singles.
In 1986, Mr. Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with another progressive guitarist, Steve Howe of Yes and Asia. The group released a self-titled album that year, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single “When the Heart Rules the Mind”.
After leaving GTR in 1987, Mr. Hackett resumed his solo career and has released albums and toured on a regular basis since.
Another Steve Hackett song, “Man Overboard” from his 1999 album “Darktown”, was written by the musician in Bermuda while sitting on a rock overlooking Jobson’s Cove and watching a sunset.
Steve Hackett’s “Matilda Smith-Williams Home for the Aged” from the 1994 CD reissue
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