Andre Williams - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Andre Williams is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

Rhythm and blues

Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...

and punk blues

Punk blues

Punk blues denotes a fusion genre of punk rock and blues. Punk blues musicians and bands usually incorporate elements of related styles, such as protopunk and blues rock. Its origins lie strongly within the garage rock sound of the 1960s and 1970s.Punk blues can be said to favor the common...

musician who started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records

Fortune Records

Fortune Records was a family operated, independent record label located in Detroit, Michigan from 1946 to 1995. The label owners were Jack and Devora Brown, their son Sheldon Brown recorded for the label...

in Detroit.

Biography

Williams lived in a housing project with his mother until she died when he was six years of age. A sly and smart young boy, his "aunties" raised him until he was around 16. He then set out on his own and moved to Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

. There, he became friends with Jack and Devora Brown, owners of Fortune Records

Fortune Records

which was located at the back of a barber shop. Williams would become labels mates with fellow Fortune Records stars Nolan Strong and Nathaniel Mayer

Nathaniel Mayer

Nathaniel Mayer was a rhythm & blues singer who started his career in the early 1960s at Fortune Records in Detroit...

.

He then became lead singer for The 5 Dollars in 1955, which already had a contract with Fortune Records

Fortune Records

. Though most of the songs were billed as 'Andre Williams and the Don Juans' (on Epic in 1956 billed as 'Andre Mr Rhythm Williams and his New Group'), "Bacon Fat" and "Jail Bait" were solo efforts. "Bacon Fat" hit #9 on the Billboard R&B Charts in 1957. "Bacon Fat" (written by Williams) was such a success that Fortune Records sold the song to Epic Records

Epic Records

Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

, a much larger distributor (released as Epic 5-9196 "Bacon Fat/Just because of a Kiss"). Since "Bacon Fat" and "Jail Bait" were such successes, Williams figured that "talking instead of singing" was a better idea for him, for he didn't have as good a voice as some other singers from the 1950s. In 1960 Fortune released a complete LP, of all of his singles with the Don Juans, which was titled Jail Bait (rereleased in 1986). This was just the start of Williams' nationwide fame.

In 1960 he appeared on Motown's Miracle Record label releasing "Rosa Lee".

In the early 1960s, Williams co-wrote Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...

's first song called "Thank You for Loving Me." Williams' "Shake a Tail Feather

Shake a Tail Feather

"Shake a Tail Feather" is a song originally recorded in 1963 by the Chicago-based group The Five Du-Tones...

" was also a hit in 1963 for the Five Du-Tones

The Five Du-Tones

The Five Du-Tones Were Robert Hopkins , Willie Guest, Frank McCurrey, LeRoy Joyce, James West, and Andrew Butler. They formed at Patrick Henry High School in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1957....

and then for Ike & Tina Turner

Ike & Tina Turner

Ike & Tina Turner were an American rock & roll and soul duo, made of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 1970s. Spanning sixteen years together as a recording group, the duo's repertoire included rock & roll, soul, blues and funk...

. Alvin Cash

Alvin Cash

Alvin Cash was an American pop singer and actor.-Biography:Born Alvin Welch in St. Louis, Missouri, and a graduate of St. Louis's Sumner High School , he and three brothers moved to Chicago, where they sang and danced while in search of a recording contract...

& the Crawlers also made a hit out of the Williams song "Twine Time." As well as making these hits

Hit single

A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...

, Williams also supervised the making of two or more albums by The Contours

The Contours

The Contours were one of the early African-American soul singing groups signed to Motown Records.The group is best known for its Billboard Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20....

. Additionally, in the '60s, Williams was the manager and roadie for soul singer Edwin Starr

Edwin Starr

Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...

.

In 1966 Williams released two records on the Avin Record Label, then two records were released on Detroit's Wingate label:"Loose Juice" and "Do it". Then on the Ric Tic label in 1967 he released; "You Got It and I Want It".

In 1968, Williams was signed to Chess Records

Chess Records

Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....

on Checker, Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

's major blues

Blues

Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...

label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

. He was back... wearing velvet lavender suits and playing "bucket-of-blood" styled joints. Chess released many hits for Williams — "Humpin' Bumpin' and Thumpin'" and "Cadillac Jack" in particular. Then, he began to work with many unknown black labels and release songs like "Sweet Little Pussy Cat" and "Rib Tips, Pts. 1 & 2." In 1968, Williams collaborated

Collaboration

Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...

with the Natural Bridge Bunch to release "Pig Snoots," a novelty song

Novelty song

A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...

about a man named Ricky who would "come all way cross town to get me some snoots". In the 1970s, Williams wrote some songs for Parliament (band)

Parliament (band)

Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...

and Funkadelic

Funkadelic

Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...

, two popular funk groups. (Comedian Redd Foxx

Redd Foxx

John Elroy Sanford , better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life:...

then dubbed Andre Williams his most famous nickname, Mr. Rhythm). Once again, Williams began to produce cuts for Ike Turner

Ike Turner

Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...

.

Throughout the 1980s, Andre Williams was in poverty because of his drug addictions

Substance dependence

The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...

. He lived in Chicago, Illinois; at one point, he was homeless and begging for money on a Chicago bridge.

In 1996, Andre Williams released Mr. Rhythm, which featured new renditions of his old tunes from the "Jail Bait" era. Some included "The Greasy Chicken," "Mean Jean," and "Pass the Biscuits Please." It was a definite comeback for Williams, but most of the crowd had already forgotten about him, and wanted newer-styled music.

He changed his style with 1998's Silky. Considered the "world's sleaziest album ever", Silky revolutionized the punky style, dubbed Sleaze rock. Mark Deming speaks about Silky: It's "noise-spattered, stripped-down, roots-punk assault, and the results are flat-out nuts." Though sleaze rockers idolized Williams, most critics preferred his original style.

In 1999, he began his relationship with Bloodshot Records

Bloodshot Records

Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...

by recording a country album with The Sadies

The Sadies

The Sadies are a Canadian indie rock and alternative country band from Toronto, Ontario.-Background:The band consists of Dallas Good , Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky...

, entitled Red Dirt.

In 2000, Andre Williams released The Black Godfather. The noisy, electric, fuzzy sound was back, with two songs backed by The Dirtbombs

The Dirtbombs

The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup...

. By this time, Andre was already back on stage, performing at the "bucket-of-blood" clubs again. 'The Black Godfather' became his new nickname, along with the outdated 'Mr. Rhythm'.

In 2001 he discussed his recent conversion to Judaism and circumcision.

In 2002–2003 he toured with the Dutch sleaze rock band Green Hornet.

A return to soul-style music came with Aphrodisiac in 2006. "The result is a more laid-back and funky groove that's soulful but potent at the same time, fusing '70s blaxploitation

Blaxploitation

Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...

sounds, Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith (musician)

Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...

-style jazz figures, and Booker T.-influenced

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. Jones is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. and the MGs. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime...

R&B workouts into one solid package" is the way Mark Deming described the album.

Williams still plays shows in the USA, and toured Europe in 2001 (with Dutch band Green Hornet as backing band), 2005 and 2006 (with the Marshall Brothers

Marshall Brothers

The Marshall Brothers are a Dutch/American rock band. They were the backing band for Andre Williams during his European tours in 2005 and 2006. Without American keyboard player Skip Marshall they form Dutch rock band Atilla the Hun and the Quality Butchers....

). From August to November 2006, he had a short European tour, ending in Switzerland. Then in early 2008 a European tour with The Flash Express.

In 2007, Andre finished recording his latest album with the New Orleans based band, Morning 40 Federation

Morning 40 Federation

Morning 40 Federation is a jazz, funk and rock band from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The band began in 1998 and cites influences of King Oliver, Tom Waits and Jon Spencer. The Morning 40 Federation disbanded after their last show at One Eyed Jacks on Toulouse Street in New Orleans . They have...

. The album, titled Can You Deal With It, was released by Bloodshot Records

Bloodshot Records

Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...

in 2008 and is credited to Andre Williams & the New Orleans Hellhounds (the pseudonymous Morning 40 Federation).

In 2010 Williams contributed a cover version of "The Way You Dog Me Around" for the compilation LP Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos

Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos

Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos is a vinyl-only tribute album released by The Wind Records and distributed by Norton Records....

. The album is a tribute to the late Nolan Strong, a Fortune Records

Fortune Records

sensation during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Williams has also been known to go by the alias "Rudibaker" or "Rutabaga" , with which he puts on a different personality and speaks in a gravely voice.

Agile Mobile Hostile

The 2007 documentary "Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams" tells of Williams' early career at Fortune Records, his hard life on the streets of Chicago in the 1980s, drug and alcohol abuse, his return to the stage and recording studio in 1995, and his current life and musical career - and the struggles that come with it.

Selective discography

1960: Jail Bait
1986: Bacon Fat
1990: Directly from the Streets
1994: Mr. Rhythm Is Back
1996: Mr. Rhythm
1996: Greasy
1998: Silky
1999: Red Dirt
2000: The Black Godfather
2001: Bait & Switch
2003: Holland Shuffle (Live)
2006: Aphrodisiac (with The Diplomats of Solid Sound
The Diplomats of Solid Sound
The Diplomats of Solid Sound is a soul band from Iowa City, Iowa. The current members are Doug Roberson on guitar, Nate Basinger on Hammond Organ, Paul Kresowik on drums and percussion, David Basinger on baritone sax, and Eddie McKinley on tenor sax, Sarah Cram on vocals, and Kathy Ruestow on vocals...

)
2008: Can You Deal with It? (with The New Orleans Hellhounds
Morning 40 Federation
Morning 40 Federation is a jazz, funk and rock band from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The band began in 1998 and cites influences of King Oliver, Tom Waits and Jon Spencer. The Morning 40 Federation disbanded after their last show at One Eyed Jacks on Toulouse Street in New Orleans . They have...

)
2010: That's All I Need

External links

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