Clarence Williams

Clarence Williams originally came to New Orleans from Plaquemine Louisiana in his teens to play piano in the District. He became most renown as a composer, writer and co-writer, bandleader, and musical promoter. As a leader, he evoked the best in his musicians. He managed Pete Lala’s Cafe and the Big 25 Club. Later he opened a publishing business with Armand J. Piron, the leader of a dance band at the Lake Pontchartrain Resorts. In 1919 he partnered with publisher-writer Spencer Williams. They annotated and copywrited music played in the dance halls, bars, and brothels of New Orleans.

Clarence left for Chicago around 1917 becoming an agent for record companies and publishing. Later in the late 1920s,  he created bands with his friends from New Orleans then became the musical director for Okeh and also worked with Colombia Records in New York. He included his wife, Eva Taylor, as a vocalist on pop and blues songs. Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet played with his Blue Five Group at the time.

During the Depression, he turned to radio promotion after having closed his publishing office, and ran an antique store in Harlem.

Songs
Wildflower Rag
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – piano

Clarence Williams’ Blue Five, 1923 -1924
Wildcat Blues
Kansas City Man Blues
Everybody Loves My Baby
Texas Moaner Blues
Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
Coal Cart Blues
All of the Wrongs
Papa De Da Da

Clarence Williams and his Washboard Band, 1927
P.D.Q. Blues
Cushion Foot Stomp

Clarence Williams Orchestra, 1928
Wildflower Rag
Organ Grinder Blues