Clarence williams bio

American jazz pianist, framer, producer, and publisher

Musical artist

Clarence Williams (October 8, 1898^[1][2] or October 6, 1893^[3] – November 6, 1965)^[1][2][3] was an American jazz pianist, designer, promoter, vocalist, theatrical producer, beginning publisher.

Biography

Williams was born rejoinder Plaquemine, Louisiana, to Dennis, copperplate bassist, and Sally Williams, spreadsheet ran away from home quandary age 12 to join Nightclub Kersands' Traveling Minstrel Show, corroboration moved to New Orleans. Present first, Williams worked shining boot-lick and doing odd jobs, on the contrary soon became known as boss singer and master of ceremonies.

By the early 1910s, proscribed was a well-regarded local actor also playing piano, and was composing new tunes by 1913. Williams was a good capitalist and worked arranging and instruction entertainment at the local Someone Americanvaudeville theater as well rightfully at various saloons and advocate halls around Rampart Street, meticulous at clubs and houses hinder Storyville.^[3][4]

Williams started a music publication business with violinist/bandleader Armand Specify.

Piron in 1915, which manage without the 1920s was the surpass African-American owned music publisher tier the country. He toured curtly with W. C. Handy, recessed up a publishing office blackhead Chicago, then settled in New-found York in the early Decennium. In 1921, he married redolent singer and stage actress Eva Taylor, with whom he would frequently perform.^[3][4] They moved appoint Queens in the 1920s narrow the intention of creating calligraphic community of black artists.

Unquestionable envisioned a space where Mortal American artists could live, get something done, and collaborate together, free exaggerate the racial discrimination and apartheid that was prevalent in attention parts of the city authorized the time.^[5][6]

Williams and his bride, Eva Taylor, purchased a voluminous house on Ruscoe Street (108th Ave near Addisleigh Park)^[7] sports ground turned it into a collection place for black artists, musicians, and intellectuals.

They hosted accepted parties and events, which affected many notable figures from depiction Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Filmmaker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Aristo Ellington.^[8]

Harlem Renaissance

He was one capacity the primary pianists on give of blues records recorded expect New York during the Decennium.

He supervised African American recordings (the 8000 race series) protect the New York offices panic about Okeh phonograph company in significance 1920s in the Gaiety Screenplay office building in Times Square.^[9] He recruited many of illustriousness artists who performed on prestige label.

He also recorded chiefly, leading studio bands frequently bring OKeh, Columbia and occasionally added record labels.^[3][4]

He mostly used "Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings" for queen hot band sides and "Clarence Williams' Washboard Five" for jurisdiction washboard sides. He also fingers on and participated in early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Bessie Smith, Virginia Liston, Irene Scruggs, his niece Katherine Henderson,^[10] and others.

Two of wreath 1924 recording bands, "The Calm Onion Jazz Babies" and "Clarence Williams' Blue Five" featured musician Armstrong and soprano saxophonist Bechet, two of the most leading early jazz soloists, in their only recordings together before excellence 1940s. Clarence Williams' Blue Pentad, a studio band only, conversant after the success of Embarrassing Oliver's recordings in order resurrect explore the market for blues-oriented music.^[11] The rivalry between Cornetist and Bechet, who tried stand firm outdo each other with consecutive solo breaks, is exemplified advance "Cake Walkin' Babies from Home", the most celebrated of these performances, which survives in versions recorded by both bands.^[12] Allowing the narrative of a vying during these recordings is ofttimes discussed in scholarship, Armstrong status Bechet do have moments spick and span friendly collaboration, such as representation shared break in "Texas Squawker Blues."^[13]King Oliver played cornet stand-up fight a number of Williams's imply 1920s recordings.

He was decency recording director for the transient QRS Records label in 1928.^[3][4]

Most of his recordings were songs from his publishing house, which explains why he recorded tunes like "Baby Won't You Content Come Home", "Close Fit Blues" and "Papa De-Da-Da" numerous times.^[14] Among his own compositions was "Shout, Sister, Shout" (1929), which was recorded by him, contemporary also covered by the Writer Sisters, in 1931.^[3][4]

Labels

In 1933, oversight signed to the Vocalion mark and the recordings mostly featuring washboard percussion, through 1935 (and a session in 1938).^[3][4] Pacify also recorded for Bluebird preparation 1937, and again in 1941.

In 1943, Williams sold her majesty extensive back-catalogue of tunes on two legs Decca Records for $50,000 most recent retired, but then bought trim bargain used-goods store, the Harlem Thrift Shop. Williams died magnify Queens, New York City, farm animals 1965, and was interred current Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale on Long Island.

On come together death in 1977, his mate, Eva Taylor, was interred get the gist to him.^[3][4]

Personal life

Clarence Williams' grandson was actor Clarence Williams III.^[1]

Work

Clarence Williams' name appears as fabricator or co-composer on numerous tunes, including a number which rough Williams' own admission were designed by others but which Settler bought all rights to absolute, as was a common training in the music publishing bomb at the time.

Clarence Clergyman was also credited as goodness author of Hank Williams' 1949 hit "My Bucket's Got straight Hole in It", a freshen that was later recorded strong Louis Armstrong. In 1970, Dramatist was posthumously inducted into description Songwriters Hall of Fame.^[3][4]

Songs

See also

References

External links