Erik Sven Fernström (15 April 1942 – 25 March 2018), who went by the stage name Jerry Williams, was a Swedish singer and actor.
Initially, he rose to prominence as the frontman of The Violents before embarking on a successful solo career.
Early life and Education
Williams was raised in a working-class household in Solna, where they lived in a one-room apartment. Tragically, his mother, a nurse, passed away when he was just twelve years old, leaving his father to raise him and his brother on his own. Despite these challenges, Williams pursued his interests in sports, participating in football, ice hockey, cycling, and even joining a boxing club called Narva BK. During his youth, he also worked as a plumber. Additionally, he fulfilled his mandatory military service in 1966.
Career
In 1962, Jerry Williams joined The Violents, a Swedish band influenced by The Shadows. He became the lead singer, and their rendition of “Darling Nelly Grey” became a hit in Sweden. Williams shared stages with The Beatles and Little Richard in the early 1960s. Transitioning to soul-influenced music in the late 1960s, his song “Keep On” gained popularity. In the early 1970s, he returned to rock and roll, performing with Roadwork and The Telstars. Williams ventured into acting in the 1980s and achieved a resurgence in 1989 with his hit song “Did I Tell You” and stage performances. He also participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989. Despite financial setbacks, Williams remained active in music, hosting radio shows and performing on TV until his farewell tour in 2013, which drew significant crowds across Sweden. Additionally, he collaborated with opera singer Malena Ernman in 2013.
Personal life and Death
Off stage, Williams maintained a very private life, focusing on his family, dogs, and training. He was known as a lifelong communist and a supporter of AIK. Williams had been married since 1977 and had two daughters from that marriage. Before tying the knot, he was a single father to a son. At the time of his passing from cancer on March 25, 2018, at the age of 75, he resided in Täby.