Zephire Andre Williams, known as Andre Williams, was a multifaceted American R&B musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, born on November 1, 1936, in Bessemer, Alabama. After his mother passed away when he was six, he was raised by his aunts. Williams moved to Detroit, Michigan, in his late teens, where he began his music career at Fortune Records, befriending the label's owners, Jack and Devora Brown.

Williams became the lead singer of The 5 Dollars in 1955 and recorded several tracks with them, though his most notable works, "Bacon Fat" and "Jail Bait," were solo efforts. "Bacon Fat" became a significant hit, reaching number 9 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1957, and was later distributed by Epic Records due to its popularity. Williams was known for his unique style of "talking instead of singing," which set him apart from other singers of his time.

Throughout the 1960s, Williams co-wrote Stevie Wonder's first song, "Thank You for Loving Me," and the R&B hit "Shake a Tail Feather," which saw success with various artists. He also worked with several record labels, including Motown's Miracle and Chess Records, and managed Edwin Starr. His song "Cadillac Jack" became another chart hit in 1968.

In the 1970s, Williams wrote songs for the funk bands Funkadelic and Parliament and was affectionately known as "Mr. Rhythm." He continued to evolve his music style, releasing the album Silky in 1998, which influenced the sleaze rock genre. Williams collaborated with Bloodshot Records and released The Black Godfather in 2000, further solidifying his legacy in the music industry.

Andre Williams passed away on March 17, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois, leaving behind a rich legacy as a pioneer in R&B and a significant influence on various music genres.