Musician. He left home at age 12 to join a traveling minstrel show, and first made a name for himself as a pianist and songwriter in New Orleans. After some experience as a vaudeville entertainment manager he founded a music publishing business, The Clarence Williams Music Company, with bandleader Armand J. Piron. He toured with W.C. Handy and eventually settled in New York, where he performed with and later married blues singer and stage actress Eva Taylor . Williams also produced many early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Bessie Smith and others. His grandson is actor Clarence Williams III. Some of his succesful tunes include "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate", "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home", "Royal Garden Blues", "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do." In 1970 Williams was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Musician. He left home at age 12 to join a traveling minstrel show, and first made a name for himself as a pianist and songwriter in New Orleans. After some experience as a vaudeville entertainment manager he founded a music publishing business, The Clarence Williams Music Company, with bandleader Armand J. Piron. He toured with W.C. Handy and eventually settled in New York, where he performed with and later married blues singer and stage actress Eva Taylor . Williams also produced many early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Bessie Smith and others. His grandson is actor Clarence Williams III. Some of his succesful tunes include "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate", "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home", "Royal Garden Blues", "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do." In 1970 Williams was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
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WILLIAMS
IN GOD'S CARE
1898 CLARENCE SR. 1965
1923 CLARENCE JR. 1976
1894 IRENE JOY 1977
Family Members
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