They refuse to book paying gigs. It doesn’t matter how much they are offered, they just won’t take the cash.

It’s not that they are sticking their noses up to hard earned dough, they simply want to give back through their music.

The Little River Band is made up of five talented musicians who make their home on, well, the Little River.

Jim Williams and his wife, Nelia, joined forces with both their upstream and downstream neighbors to form the band.

Originally put together for friendly jam sessions, Williams and his crew were starting to really mesh well when it came to their music.

While most of the members had played instruments for much of their lives, Kathy Garriott, Williams’ downstream neighbor, hadn’t.

“She worked so hard on learning to play the banjo,” Williams said. “It’s a great addition to our sound, and I couldn’t be happier about her huge efforts and natural talent.”

Are you a fan of some rocking string instruments set behind a harmonious group of singers? That’s not the only thing that the Little River Band has going for it.

Made up of singer, songwriter and guitarist Jim Williams, upright bass player Nelia Williams, violin and fiddle player Randy Garriott, banjo player Kathy Garriott, mandolin player Doyce Emmert and No. 1 fan and fun-loving roadie, Trish Emmert, the Little River Band has taken its talent to the streets.

Playing for charities, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and the like, the Little River Band doesn’t just play good music, it tell stories through their tunes.

They’ve taken to the studio and recorded their first album, titled ‘Memories in Music: A Taste of the Rich and Colorful History of Oconee County.”

Each song on the album is all about Oconee, from a song called “Salem” to a little diddy about the Blue Ridge railroad.

“It doesn’t get any better than when people appreciate your music,” Jim Williams said. “We love to do this. We love to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

Their sound combines a unique blend of folk, ballad, gospel and bluegrass.

Williams, who is a practicing attorney, takes time off from the office to record and play music with the Little River Band.

“I met my wife while I was playing music at Brevard College and it’s always been a part of me.”

But don’t get them confused.

This Little River Band is not the same Little River Band that formed in Australia circa 1975 and has numerous chart topping hits.

“We made a deal, if they promised to not play in nursing homes, I promised I wouldn’t record any No. 1 hits. That seemed fair to me, so we kept our name,” Williams said jokingly.

After recording its album, the band donated all of its CDs to the DAR Thrift Store and the Oconee Heritage Center, among other places.

“It was just another way to give back and help these organizations raise money,” Williams said. “That’s the centerpiece of why we do what we do.”

And when they play at nursing and retirement homes, Williams said it doesn’t get any better.

“Let’s face it, some of those folks are just worn down,” he said. “But by the third song, they really come to life. They are moving with the music, clapping along and having a big time.

“An elderly woman’s daughter told me that for the first time in a long time, her mother put on makeup and did her hair to come see us play. Now that’s pretty great.”

For more information, contact Jim Williams at 882-2747.