Clarence Williams
Clarence Williams, born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, in either October 1893 or 1898, was a seminal figure in the development of jazz music. He began his career at the tender age of 12, joining Billy Kersands' Traveling Minstrel Show and later becoming a master of ceremonies. Williams' early career saw him working in New Orleans, where he became a well-regarded local entertainer, pianist, and composer by the early 1910s. He co-founded a music publishing business with Armand J. Piron in 1915, which became the leading African-American owned music publisher by the 1920s.
In 1921, Williams married blues singer Eva Taylor, and the couple moved to New York, where they created a community for black artists in Queens. Williams was deeply involved in the Harlem Renaissance, hosting gatherings that attracted figures like Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington. He was a key figure in the recording industry, supervising African American recordings for Okeh Records and recording extensively with his studio bands, such as "Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings" and "Clarence Williams' Washboard Five."
Williams collaborated with many notable musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Bessie Smith. His compositions, such as “Royal Garden Blues” and “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home?”, became jazz standards. Williams was known for his entrepreneurial spirit, opening music stores in Chicago and promoting recordings of black female blues singers. He passed away in Queens, New York, on November 6, 1965, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of New Orleans jazz and a major influence on the genre.
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