Profile: Big Fella

This Is Nashville

Big Fella, aka Willie Sims, Jr., is a musician, entertainer, TV producer, community activist and advocate, ordained minister, board member, chef, teacher, life coach and is known by many as the Unofficial Mayor of Music City.

You may have seen his self-produced cooking show, Cookin' Wit' Big Fella. Perhaps, you know him from the Juneteenth fireworks celebration at Fort Negley. Or maybe you’ve run into him at a fundraising event, Metro Council meeting or a really great party.

Today, he joins us to talk about his life — his early years, how he came to Nashville and what living here means to him.

This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona.

Further reading and listening:

• You can listen to our Halloween 2023 sketch episode when host Khalil Ekulona and producer Elizabeth Burton visited the scariest places in Nashville in search of Big Fella.
• In November, we also aired a follow up call-in show to the Halloween episode to get your feedback on what turned out to be a bit of a controversial episode.
• Big Fella's cooking show can be found on YouTube.
• There's a lot going on in Nashville to celebrate Juneteenth. You can find out what's happening at juneteenth615.com.