Spencer Williams
Encyclopedia
Spencer Williams was an American
jazz
and popular music
composer
, pianist
, and singer. He is best known for his hit songs "Basin Street Blues
", "I Ain't Got Nobody
", "Royal Garden Blues
", "I've Found a New Baby
", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Tishomingo Blues
", "Careless Love
", and many others.
. He was educated at St. Charles University in New Orleans.
Williams was performing in Chicago
by 1907, and moved to New York City
about 1916. After arriving in New York, he co-wrote several songs with Anton Lada of the Louisiana Five
. Among those songs was "Basin Street Blues
" which would become one of his most popular songs and is still recorded by musicians to this day.
Around the time of World War One he co-composed the song "Squeeze Me" with Fats Waller.
Williams toured Europe
with bands from 1925 to 1928; during this time he wrote for Josephine Baker
at the Folies Bergères
in Paris
. Williams then returned to New York for a few years. In 1932, he moved to Europe for good, spending many years in London
before moving to Stockholm
in 1951 where he spent most of the rest of his life. Williams returned to New York shortly before his death in Flushing, New York on July 14, 1965.
His hit songs include "Basin Street Blues
", "She'll Be Comin Around That Mountain", "I Ain't Got Nobody
", "Royal Garden Blues
", "Mahogany Hall Stomp", "I've Found a New Baby
", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Squeeze Me
", "Shimmy-Sha-Wobble", "Boodle Am Shake", "Tishomingo Blues
", "Fireworks", "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll", "Careless Love
", "Arkansas Blues", "Paradise Blues", "When Lights Are Low","Dallas Blues
", and "My Man o’ War".
Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 1970.
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...
and popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, 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:...
, and singer. He is best known for his hit songs "Basin Street Blues
Basin Street Blues
"Basin Street Blues" is a song often performed by Dixieland jazz bands, written by Spencer Williams. The song was published in 1926 and made famous in a recording by Louis Armstrong in 1928...
", "I Ain't Got Nobody
I Ain't Got Nobody
"I Ain't Got Nobody" was a c. 1915 song, written by Spencer Williams. Publisher Roger Graham received co-composer credits. It became a perennial standard, recorded many times over following generations, in styles ranging from pop to jazz to country music....
", "Royal Garden Blues
Royal Garden Blues
"Royal Garden Blues" is a blues song composed by Clarence and Spencer Williams in 1919. Popularized in jazz by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, it has since been recorded by numerous artists and has become a jazz standard...
", "I've Found a New Baby
I've Found a New Baby
"I've Found a New Baby", also known as "I Found a New Baby", is a popular song written by Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams. It was introduced by Clarence Williams' Blue Five in 1926 and has since been recorded by many artists, making it a popular jazz standard.Spencer Williams and Palmer had...
", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Tishomingo Blues
Tishomingo Blues
"Tishomingo Blues" is a famous tune and song by Spencer Williams. The tune was first published in 1917. The title refers to Tishomingo, Mississippi, although the cover of the original sheet music shows a scene in Mexico.The original lyrics are as follows:...
", "Careless Love
Careless Love
"Careless Love" is a traditional song of obscure origins.Blues versions are popular; the lyrics change from version to version, but usually speak of the heartbreak brought on by "careless love." Frequently, the narrator threatens to kill his or her wayward lover.The song's melody also is used in...
", and many others.
Biography
Spencer Williams was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He was educated at St. Charles University in New Orleans.
Williams was performing in 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...
by 1907, and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
about 1916. After arriving in New York, he co-wrote several songs with Anton Lada of the Louisiana Five
Louisiana Five
The Louisiana Five was an early dixieland jazz band that was active from 1918-1920. It was among the earliest jazz groups to record extensively.-History:The Louisiana Five was led by Anton Lada, who played the drums....
. Among those songs was "Basin Street Blues
Basin Street Blues
"Basin Street Blues" is a song often performed by Dixieland jazz bands, written by Spencer Williams. The song was published in 1926 and made famous in a recording by Louis Armstrong in 1928...
" which would become one of his most popular songs and is still recorded by musicians to this day.
Around the time of World War One he co-composed the song "Squeeze Me" with Fats Waller.
Williams toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with bands from 1925 to 1928; during this time he wrote for Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess"....
at the Folies Bergères
Folies Bergères
The Folies Bergère established in 1869 in Paris, France, is a music hall which was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s through the 1920s. the institution is still in business.-History:...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Williams then returned to New York for a few years. In 1932, he moved to Europe for good, spending many years in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before moving to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1951 where he spent most of the rest of his life. Williams returned to New York shortly before his death in Flushing, New York on July 14, 1965.
His hit songs include "Basin Street Blues
Basin Street Blues
"Basin Street Blues" is a song often performed by Dixieland jazz bands, written by Spencer Williams. The song was published in 1926 and made famous in a recording by Louis Armstrong in 1928...
", "She'll Be Comin Around That Mountain", "I Ain't Got Nobody
I Ain't Got Nobody
"I Ain't Got Nobody" was a c. 1915 song, written by Spencer Williams. Publisher Roger Graham received co-composer credits. It became a perennial standard, recorded many times over following generations, in styles ranging from pop to jazz to country music....
", "Royal Garden Blues
Royal Garden Blues
"Royal Garden Blues" is a blues song composed by Clarence and Spencer Williams in 1919. Popularized in jazz by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, it has since been recorded by numerous artists and has become a jazz standard...
", "Mahogany Hall Stomp", "I've Found a New Baby
I've Found a New Baby
"I've Found a New Baby", also known as "I Found a New Baby", is a popular song written by Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams. It was introduced by Clarence Williams' Blue Five in 1926 and has since been recorded by many artists, making it a popular jazz standard.Spencer Williams and Palmer had...
", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Squeeze Me
Squeeze Me
"Squeeze Me" is a 1925 jazz standard composed by Fats Waller. It was based on an old blues song called "The Boy in the Boat". The lyrics were credited to publisher Clarence Williams, although Andy Razaf has claimed to have actually written the lyrics....
", "Shimmy-Sha-Wobble", "Boodle Am Shake", "Tishomingo Blues
Tishomingo Blues
"Tishomingo Blues" is a famous tune and song by Spencer Williams. The tune was first published in 1917. The title refers to Tishomingo, Mississippi, although the cover of the original sheet music shows a scene in Mexico.The original lyrics are as follows:...
", "Fireworks", "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll", "Careless Love
Careless Love
"Careless Love" is a traditional song of obscure origins.Blues versions are popular; the lyrics change from version to version, but usually speak of the heartbreak brought on by "careless love." Frequently, the narrator threatens to kill his or her wayward lover.The song's melody also is used in...
", "Arkansas Blues", "Paradise Blues", "When Lights Are Low","Dallas Blues
Dallas Blues
"Dallas Blues", written by Hart Wand, was the first true blues song ever published. "Oh, You Beautiful Doll", a Tin Pan Alley song whose first verse is twelve-bar blues, had been published a year earlier...
", and "My Man o’ War".
Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
in 1970.