Fess Williams
Encyclopedia
Stanley Williams (better known as Fess Williams) was an American
jazz
musician
.
. By his late teens he had settled on clarinet, and soon afterwards formed the first of many bands he was to lead over the coming years.
In 1926 Williams formed the Royal Flush Orchestra
. The popular hot jazz outfit held residency at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom
for most of its life and recorded on the Victor, Vocalion, Gennett, Okeh, Brunswick, Champion, and Harmony labels. Williams, Frank Marvin, and Perry Smith supplied vocals. The flamboyant Williams typically performed wearing a white suit and top hat. During this time he recorded many of his own compositions such as Friction, Here 'Tis and his highest selling record, Hot Town
.
In 1928 Williams traveled to Chicago where he temporarily fronted Dave Peyton's band at the Regal Theatre. Calling the group Fess Williams and His Joy Boys
, he recorded two sides with them for Vocalion. The Royal Flush Orchestra continued to operate in his absence, and in 1929 he returned to New York to resume his duties.
The Royal Flush Orchestra recorded its last side in 1930. Williams remained active as a bandleader, but as the decade progressed his sound became outdated. He fell out of favor with the public and eventually retired from performing full-time to sell real estate. He continued to lead bands periodically during the 1940s and beyond.
only less smoothly. He also specialised in the style of Gas Pipe Clarinet
which is when the instrument is used to produce all kinds of honks, growls, squeaks and effects that sounded like animal noises, laughter or other sounds you would not expect to hear from a clarinet. He was also a fine exponent of the Slap Tonguing
style. He also had the ability to perform a Circular breathing
technique meaning he could hold a note indefinitely. This is shown off in his composition "Playing My Saxophone".
who, in 1962 dragged Williams back into the spotlight briefly as a guest for the Town Hall Concert.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Early life
As a child Williams played several instruments. He received his formal education from N. Clark-Smith at Tuskegee UniversityTuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
. By his late teens he had settled on clarinet, and soon afterwards formed the first of many bands he was to lead over the coming years.
Career
From 1919 to 1923 he led his own band before moving to Chicago and joining Ollie Powers. In 1923 he formed a new group in order to back the variety act Dave and Tressie and traveled to New York with them in 1924. There he led a trio in Albany as well as a band that played at the Rosemont Ballroom.allIn 1926 Williams formed the Royal Flush Orchestra
Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra
Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra was the main band of clarinetist Fess Williams from 1926–1930- Brief history :In 1926 Williams formed the Royal Flush Orchestra. The popular hot jazz outfit held residency at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom for most of its life and recorded on the Victor,...
. The popular hot jazz outfit held residency at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom
Savoy Ballroom
The Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....
for most of its life and recorded on the Victor, Vocalion, Gennett, Okeh, Brunswick, Champion, and Harmony labels. Williams, Frank Marvin, and Perry Smith supplied vocals. The flamboyant Williams typically performed wearing a white suit and top hat. During this time he recorded many of his own compositions such as Friction, Here 'Tis and his highest selling record, Hot Town
Hot Town
Hot Town is the title of a song both composed and recorded by Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra. It was first recorded on 17 April 1929 in New York and released on both the Victor and Bluebird labels....
.
In 1928 Williams traveled to Chicago where he temporarily fronted Dave Peyton's band at the Regal Theatre. Calling the group Fess Williams and His Joy Boys
Fess Williams and his Joy Boys
-Brief history:During 1928 Williams took a short break from leading the Royal Flush Orchestra to front Dave Peyton's band in Chicago at the Regal Theatre under the name Fess Williams and His Joy Boys. During this time they recorded two sides on Vocalion, "Dixie Stomp" and "Drifting and Dreaming"...
, he recorded two sides with them for Vocalion. The Royal Flush Orchestra continued to operate in his absence, and in 1929 he returned to New York to resume his duties.
The Royal Flush Orchestra recorded its last side in 1930. Williams remained active as a bandleader, but as the decade progressed his sound became outdated. He fell out of favor with the public and eventually retired from performing full-time to sell real estate. He continued to lead bands periodically during the 1940s and beyond.
Playing style
Williams played in a style reminiscent of Ted LewisTed Lewis (musician)
Theodore Leopold Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis , was an American entertainer, bandleader, singer, and musician. He led a band presenting a combination of jazz, hokey comedy, and schmaltzy sentimentality that was a hit with the American public. He was known by the moniker "Mr...
only less smoothly. He also specialised in the style of Gas Pipe Clarinet
Gas Pipe Clarinet
Gas Pipe Clarinet is a style when the clarinet players uses the instrument to produce honks, growls, squeaks and effects that sound like animal noises, laughter and so on. It is designed to be humorous and was used in many musical comedy acts from the 1910s to the 1930s...
which is when the instrument is used to produce all kinds of honks, growls, squeaks and effects that sounded like animal noises, laughter or other sounds you would not expect to hear from a clarinet. He was also a fine exponent of the Slap Tonguing
Slap tonguing
In music, the term Slap Tonguing refers to a musician playing a single-reed instrument such as a clarinet or a saxophone employing a technique to produce a popping sound along with the note.-The technique:...
style. He also had the ability to perform a Circular breathing
Circular breathing
Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.It is used extensively in playing...
technique meaning he could hold a note indefinitely. This is shown off in his composition "Playing My Saxophone".
The Town Hall Concert
Williams came from — and fathered — a musical family; his brother Rudolph was a saxophonist and clarinetist, his sons Rudy and Phil were both saxophonists, and his daughter Estella was a pianist and vocalist. He was also the uncle of the double bassist Charles MingusCharles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
who, in 1962 dragged Williams back into the spotlight briefly as a guest for the Town Hall Concert.