Biography
Born near the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Mt. Airy, North Carolina—a town known by many as the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, and the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry highlighted in The Andy Griffith Show—Chip Williford, the son of a Pentecostal minister and a former preschool teacher turned homemaker, grew up in geographic locations across America, including South Carolina, Ohio and New York due to his father’s work in ministry. A kind gentleman with strong doses of honor, integrity and humor, Chip learned hard work, innovation, perseverance, fortitude, strength, and love for the community from his parents.
At the age of twenty one, Chip moved all the way to Northern California, It was in Oakland where he and two friends, in 1984, started a business called Marvelous Productions Promotions through which they developed a show named, “Let’s Talk.” hosted by one of his mentors, Minister ElTyna Dixon-McCree. Their first guest was none other than American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer, Lou Rawls—who creatively developed the Lou Rawls’ Parade of Stars Telethon in 1980 and has since raised over $200 million through the show. From there, Chip went on to produce another show, for the next two and a half years called “30 Marvelous Minutes” because as their catch phrase stated, “Because Every Minute Counts.” It tackled difficult and heartfelt subjects such as drug addiction, AIDS, homelessness, Habitat for Humanity and community concerns, as well as concerts, and entertainment in the community.
Fast Forward:
A photographer, videographer, filmmaker, documentarian, family historian, researcher, and writer of prose, poetry and short stories, Chip is Director and Co-host Poetry Street “the room without a roof, where every voice is heard”, ( www.poetrystreetontheroad.com ) with Co-host Maggie Bloomfield, which was founded by Susan Dingle and Robert “Bubbie Brown” as part of the East End Arts’ JumpstART program. He has co-produced and filmed the YouTube Series “Poetry Street on The Road,” and is featured on YouTube on “America, Please Learn From The Scars Of History”. He produced and co-directed, “Bohemia, Then and Now,” an educational historical documentary that was internationally recognized and also viewed by Bohemian American citizens along with the Bohemian Ambassador at the National Hall Bohemia Embassy in New York City following a full house premiere and red carpet reception at The Bohemia Historical Society Museum.
He’s the owner of Chip Williford Productions. His technical and production experience spans years working with Chew Entertainment on several Annual BET Honors, Night Of Inspiration Concerts, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument dedication and other monumental events, award shows and concerts such as the Apollo Gala and Showtime At The Apollo. His freelance production work also includes the 60th Grammy’s, Musique Concerts at at several venues including the Van Nostrand Performance Arts Center, and the St George Theater. He filmed and interviewed honorees and celebrities on the Red Carpet at the 47th Annual Audelco Awards for Excellence in Black Theater at The Tribeca Performance Arts Center, most recently he was Stage Manager at the 2024 Legends of Vinyl Music Hall of Fame Awards.
It is clear that Chip is well known in the arts industry and is even sought after as it is said that he is professional, candid, unbiased
Chip Williford is Director and Co-host of Poetry Street, a writer of prose, poetry, and short stories, a videographer, filmmaker, documentarian, family historian, researcher, a good listener, and a relatable storyteller.
He is more than a mentor to the young people who intern with him at Chip Williford Productions, studied with him at SCCC and those he worked with at Suffolk Theater—he is a guiding light—a well lit city, if you would—a plethora of experience and encouragement, inspiring them to stretch themselves and to reach fearlessly for those things the world has told them are unattainable. He motivationally states, “Life is a one shot deal. Shoot your best shot.”