Trivia

Played guitar and keyboard in the following American country bands: Five Too Many (1965-66, 2001); Red and White Blues Band (1966-67); Thackery Rock (1967-68); Goose Creek Symphony (1968-75, 1985-86, 1991, 2004, 2008-15); Zorox (1975); Dr. Hook (1976-80); Glen Campbell (1988); The Jeff Dayton Band (1989); The Old Cowhands (1995-97); Duet On The Road (2007-). Has also played with Bobbie Gentry and many others.

He was an official member of Dr. Hook from autumn 1976 to spring 1980. During this his period with the band, they released and promoted the albums 'Makin' Love and Music' (1977), 'Pleasure and Pain' (1978) and 'Sometimes You Win' (1979). His electric guitar soloing can be heard on the track 'What a Way to Go' (1977) and his acoustic guitar playing can be heard on the hit 'Sharing the Night Together' (1978).

Appeared on the first seven Goose Creek Symphony albums: 'Est. 1970' (1970), 'Welcome To Goose Creek' (1971), 'Words Of Earnest' (1972), 'Do Your Thing But Don't Touch Mine' (1973), 'Head For The Hills' (1975), 'Oso Special' (1985), 'Live At Appalshop' (1991). He guested on 'Goose On The Lake' (2004), rejoined the group for 'The Same Thing Again' (2008) and also appears on the retrospective 'Live In Canada 72 & 74' (2013).

Temporarily replaced ill Dr. Hook guitarist Rik Elswit in 1976. When Elswit returned the following year, Willard remained in the group; making numbers back up from six to seven (effectively filling the role of George Cummings, who left in 1975 but was not replaced). Willard left the group early in 1980 after a string of disco hits with the group: 'Sharing the Night Together', 'When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman', 'Sexy Eyes' and 'Better Love Next Time'.

One of his first appearances with the group Dr. Hook was on Episode #4.7 (1976) in September 1976, recorded shortly after he joined, standing in for guitarist Rik Elswit.

In autumn 1975, a year prior to joining Dr. Hook, he recorded guitar on one of the tracks on the groups 'A Little Bit More' album.