Roosevelt Williams
Encyclopedia
Roosevelt Thomas "Grey Ghost" Williams (December 7, 1903 - July 17, 1996) was an African American
blues
pianist
, with a 70-year career spanning from the 1920s through the 1990s.
Williams was born in Bastrop, Texas
, United States
, and received only basic musical training when he was a teenager. He traveled to the area dance
s and roadhouse
s by riding empty boxcar
s. He would seem to appear out of nowhere and then disappear immediately after performing, which earned him the nickname
, "Grey Ghost."
In 1940, author William A. Owens
made a live recording of Williams singing "Hitler Blues," a song written by Williams. The song received mention in Time
and was broadcast by BBC Radio
on a program hosted by Alistair Cooke
in 1940 about the American musical response to World War II
. This did not make Williams famous, but he became a regular in nightclub
s like the Victory Grill
and other venues that catered to the African-American community during racial segregation in the United States
.
In 1965, archivist Tary Owens (1942–2003) recorded several Grey Ghost songs. After decades of relative obscurity, Owens tracked down Grey Ghost again in the mid-1980s. Williams had tired of traveling and settled in Austin
and began driving a school bus for the Austin Independent School District
. Williams was long retired, but Owens not only issued the 1965 recordings on his Catfish Records
label
in 1987, but also convinced Williams, now 84, to start playing again and introduced him to a new generation of blues fans. Owens arranged for Williams to make a CD of new recordings at the age of 89. Williams eponymous solo album was released on October 10, 1992 on Owens' Spindletop label.
The City of Austin proclaimed December 7, 1987, as Grey Ghost Day, and he was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 1988. Williams performed regularly until the time of his death in Austin at the age of 92.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
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...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, with a 70-year career spanning from the 1920s through the 1990s.
History
- He says he got the name Grey Ghost back when he was hired to play in various small towns. Someone would meet every arriving train or bus, but Williams was never aboard--yet mysteriously he would show up in time to perform. "They said like a ghost I come up out of the ground, and then I was gone," he grinned. "I had come and gone by freight train. I would put overalls over my suit and tie, and that's the way I traveled."
Williams was born in Bastrop, Texas
Bastrop, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 5340 people in Bastrop, organized into 2034 households and 1336 families. The population density is 734.8 people per square mile . There are 2,239 housing units at an average density of 308.1 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and received only basic musical training when he was a teenager. He traveled to the area dance
Social dance
Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing...
s and roadhouse
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
s by riding empty boxcar
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
s. He would seem to appear out of nowhere and then disappear immediately after performing, which earned him the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, "Grey Ghost."
In 1940, author William A. Owens
William A. Owens
William A. Owens, , was an American author, folklorist and educator.-Biography:Owens was born in Pin Hook, Lamar County, Texas. He was born into rural poverty, his father died when he was only a few days old and was educated at a one room school...
made a live recording of Williams singing "Hitler Blues," a song written by Williams. The song received mention in Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
and was broadcast by BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
on a program hosted by Alistair Cooke
Alistair Cooke
Alfred Alistair Cooke KBE was a British/American journalist, television personality and broadcaster. Outside his journalistic output, which included Letter from America and Alistair Cooke's America, he was well known in the United States as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theater from 1971 to 1992...
in 1940 about the American musical response to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This did not make Williams famous, but he became a regular in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s like the Victory Grill
Victory Grill
Victory Grill is a historic music venue located at 1104 E. 11th St, Austin, Texas. The nightclub was on the Chitlin' Circuit and hosted famous African American acts such as Bobby Bland, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, W. C. Clark and B. B. King when Austin was legally segregated...
and other venues that catered to the African-American community during racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
.
In 1965, archivist Tary Owens (1942–2003) recorded several Grey Ghost songs. After decades of relative obscurity, Owens tracked down Grey Ghost again in the mid-1980s. Williams had tired of traveling and settled in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and began driving a school bus for the Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...
. Williams was long retired, but Owens not only issued the 1965 recordings on his Catfish Records
Catfish Records
Catfish Records was a UK record label, initially devoted to reissuing blues records, mostly from the era of 78 rpm records. They concentrated on country blues and delta blues during the heyday of the late 1920s and the early 1930s, with forays into later eras up to the arrival of rhythm and blues...
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,...
in 1987, but also convinced Williams, now 84, to start playing again and introduced him to a new generation of blues fans. Owens arranged for Williams to make a CD of new recordings at the age of 89. Williams eponymous solo album was released on October 10, 1992 on Owens' Spindletop label.
The City of Austin proclaimed December 7, 1987, as Grey Ghost Day, and he was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 1988. Williams performed regularly until the time of his death in Austin at the age of 92.