Noted Jazz, blues and pop composer, pianist, and singer
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Spencer Williams
Inductee
Born/Died
Inducted
Chief collaborator with Fats Waller and Josephine Baker
Composer and Lyricist, Spencer Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 14, 1889.
In 1907, after graduating from St. Charles University, Williams moved to Chicago and found work as a pianist at the San Souci Park. He moved to Paris in 1925, writing songs and special material for Josephine Baker ad Folies Bergere. After a brief return to the US, Williams moved back to Paris in 1932 where he lived for several years.
Williams’ chief collaborator was composer Thomas “Fats” Waller, with whom he also traveled and performed with throughout the US and Europe.
Highlights from the serious music and popular song catalogs of Spencer Williams include “I Ain’t Got Nobody”, “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble”, “Tishomingo Blues”, “Royal Garden Blues”, “Basin Street Blues”, “Everybody Loves My Baby”, “I Found a New Baby”, “Mahogany Hall stomp”, “Careless Love”, “Arkansas Blues”, “Paradise Blues”, “When Lights Are Low”, “Dallas Blues”, “I Ain’t Gonna Give No-Body None o’ This Jelly Roll” and “My Man o’ War”.
Spencer Williams died in New York City on July 14, 1965.
