Ulysses Kae Williams
Encyclopedia
Ulysses Kae Williams was known as one of the earliest local deejay
s to play the blues.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, USA, he started in radio around 1945 and worked for numerous area stations, including WSSJ, WDAS, WHAT (AM)
, and WCAM. At the same time, he worked for the Philadelphia Tribune
, from 1945 to 1948 as theatrical and night club critic. Williams managed several local acts, including Lee Andrews & the Hearts
, and Solomon Burke
(from 1954-1957). In the mid-1950s, Kae reached what would be eventually the high point of his career, when the group he was managing, The Silhouettes
, had a huge pop hit with "Get a Job
". The track sold several million copies in the USA and abroad and topped the pop charts. Williams also managed a group called The Sensations
, which sold close to a million with the pop tune Let Me In. Kae Williams inspired many youngsters, black and white, to go into radio and music.
His second son, Ulysses Kae, Jr., (born 7 March 1956; died November 11, 1998), was a record producer, whose Catch Me I'm Falling by the group Pretty Poison
climbed the charts on its release. Williams died on December 29, 1987 in Philadelphia.
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
s to play the blues.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, USA, he started in radio around 1945 and worked for numerous area stations, including WSSJ, WDAS, WHAT (AM)
WHAT (AM)
El Zol 1340 is a commercial radio station located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadcasting on 1340 AM. The station is owned by Aztec Capital Partners, Inc....
, and WCAM. At the same time, he worked for the Philadelphia Tribune
Philadelphia Tribune
The Philadelphia Tribune is an American newspaper, headquartered at 520 South 16th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that primarily targets the African American community. Published Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, it is the oldest continually running African-American newspaper,...
, from 1945 to 1948 as theatrical and night club critic. Williams managed several local acts, including Lee Andrews & the Hearts
Lee Andrews & the Hearts
Lee Andrews & the Hearts was a doo-wop quintet from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed in 1953. They recorded on the Gotham, Rainbow, Mainline, Chess, United Artists, Grand and Gowen labels. Managed by Kae Williams, in 1957 and 1958 they had their three biggest hits, "Teardrops", "Long Lonely...
, and Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
(from 1954-1957). In the mid-1950s, Kae reached what would be eventually the high point of his career, when the group he was managing, The Silhouettes
The Silhouettes
The Silhouettes were an American doo wop/R&B group whose single "Get A Job" was a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. "Get A Job"' is included in the soundtracks of the movies,...
, had a huge pop hit with "Get a Job
Get a Job (song)
"Get a Job" is one of the best known doo-wop songs of the 1950s. Recorded by The Silhouettes in October 1957, the song reached the number one spot on the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts in February 1958....
". The track sold several million copies in the USA and abroad and topped the pop charts. Williams also managed a group called The Sensations
The Sensations
The Sensations were an American doo wop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The group formed in 1954 under the name the Cavaliers, soon after changing to the Sensations. The group scored two hits on the US R&B chart in 1956 with the Atco Records singles "Yes Sir That's My Baby" and "Please Mr....
, which sold close to a million with the pop tune Let Me In. Kae Williams inspired many youngsters, black and white, to go into radio and music.
His second son, Ulysses Kae, Jr., (born 7 March 1956; died November 11, 1998), was a record producer, whose Catch Me I'm Falling by the group Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison is a Dance group based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Group members are Jade Starling ; Whey Cooler ; and Kaya Pryor .-History:...
climbed the charts on its release. Williams died on December 29, 1987 in Philadelphia.
Awards
- BMD Publishers Award (1957) for Get a Job
- Mary DEE Award for outstanding community service and broadcasting (1978)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (1989) (presented to his son, Kae Williams Jr.)
- Chairman of the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers
Further reading
- Warner, Jay. American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2006.