HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Fess Williams

Birth of Jazz: Fess Williams

Fess Williams

Born on 10 April 1894 in Danville, Kentucky, Fess Williams was a composer who played clarinet and sax, assembling his first orchestra in 1919 at age fifteen. He worked for Ollie Powers in Chicago in 1923 before forming the Royal Flush Orchestra, first recording in latter 1925 for Gennett Records. A session circa October has him issuing 'Green River Blues'. In December he recorded 'Caroline' and a couple takes of 'Some Other Time'. William's Royal Flush took residency at the Savoy Ballroom in 1926.

'Green River Blues' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

C 2 Oct 1925 in NYC 1st recording Gennett 3182

Trumpet: George Temple Trombone: David "Jelly" James

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Fess Williams / Perry Smith

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Ollie Blackwell Drums: Ralph Bedell

Composition: Arthur Schutt

'Messin' Around' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

1 Oct 1926 in NYC Vocalion 1054

As Bud Jackson's Swanee Serenaders on Brunswick 3351

Composition: Johnny St. Cyr / Doc Cooke

'Wimmin - Aaah!' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

19 Feb 1926 in NYC Gennett 3259

Composition: Matty Malneck / Frank Signorelli / Irving Mills

'Variety Stomp' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

28 March 1927 in NYC

Take 2 of 3: Brunswick 3532 Takes 1 & 3 issued on Vocalion 15550

Trumpet: George Tempel / Keneth Roane (arrangement) Trombone: David "Jelly" James

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Fess Williams / Perry Smith / Gene Mikell

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Ollie Blackwell

Bass brass: Clinton Walker Drums: Ralph Bedell

Composition: Charlie Green / Fletcher Henderson / Jo Trent

'Phantom Blues' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

28 March 1927 in NYC Vocalion 15550

Trumpet: George Tempel / Keneth Roane (arrangement) Trombone: David "Jelly" James

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Fess Williams / Perry Smith / Gene Mikell

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Ollie Blackwell

Bass brass: Clinton Walker Drums: Ralph Bedell

Composition: Al Handler / Irving Mills / Len Riley

'Ozark Blues' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

15 June 1927 in NYC Vocalion 1117

Composition: Fred Rose Arrangement: Fess Williams

'Number Ten' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

24 June 1927 in NYC Brunswick 3596

Composition: Fred Rose

In 1928 Williams took a different tack, temporarily leaving his Royal Flush in New York to form the Joy Boys in Chicago. On April 3, 1928, Williams' Joy Boys recorded 'Dixie Stomp' and 'Drifting and Dreaming' for Vocalion. Back in New York, Williams' continued to record with his orchestra until its last session in 1930 for Victor, those thought to be 'Dinah', 'Just to Be with You Tonight' and 'Everything's OK with Me'.

'Dixie Stomp' Fess Williams & His Joy Boys

3 April 1928 in Chicago Matrix E7291 Vocalion 15690

Trumpet: Fats Robbins / Reuben Reeves Trombone: Eddie Atkins / William Franklin

Reeds (clarinet / oboe): Fess Williams / Fats Robbins / Ralph Brown

Reeds (sax): Ralph Brown / Norval Morton (flute)

Violin: Clarence Lee / Bobby Wall / Joe McCutchin

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Lawrence W. Dixon

String brass: Sudie Reynaud Drums: Jasper Taylor

Composition: Paul Tremaine ?

'Drifting and Dreaming' Fess Williams & His Joy Boys

3 April 1928 in Chicago Matrix E7292 Vocalion 15690

Trumpet: Fats Robbins / Reuben Reeves Trombone: Eddie Atkins / William Franklin

Reeds (clarinet / oboe): Fess Williams / Fats Robbins / Ralph Brown

Reeds (sax): Ralph Brown / Norval Morton (flute)

Violin: Clarence Lee / Bobby Wall / Joe McCutchin

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Lawrence W. Dixon

String brass: Sudie Reynaud Drums: Jasper Taylor

Composition: Egbert Van Alstyne / Loyal Curtis / Erwin Roeder Schmidt / Haven Gillespie

'Kentucky Blues' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

22 April 1929 in NYC Victor V38077

Composition: Walter H. Brown

'Hot Mama' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

18 April 1930 in NYC Victor 22864

Victor 22864 w Hoagy Carmichael flip side

Trumpet: George Temple / John Brown Trombone: David Jelly James

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Fess Williams / Bobby Holmes / Perry Smith / Ralph Brown or Felix Gregory

Violin: Clarence Lee / Bobby Wall / Joe McCutchin

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Andy Pendleton or Ollie Blackwell

Tuba: Emanuel Casamore Drums: Ralph Bedell

Composition: David Jelly James

'I'm Feeling Devilish Royal' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

18 April 1930 in NYC Victor V38131

Trumpet: George Temple / John Brown Trombone: David Jelly James

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Fess Williams / Bobby Holmes / Perry Smith / Ralph Brown or Felix Gregory

Violin: Clarence Lee / Bobby Wall / Joe McCutchin

Piano: Henry Duncan Banjo: Andy Pendleton or Ollie Blackwell

Tuba: Emanuel Casamore Drums: Ralph Bedell Vocal: Fess Williams

Composition: Maceo Pinkhard

'Playing My Saxophone' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

10 July 1930 in NYC 1st of 2 takes Victor 24153

Composition: Fess Williams

'Dinah' Fess Williams & His Royal Flush Orchestra

31 July 1930 in NYC Victor 23005 From final session of the Royal Flush

Composition: Sam Lewis / Joe Young / Harry Akst

During the stagnating years of the Great Depression Williams continued to lead bands on occasion but turned to selling real estate to make a living. Both DAHR and Tom Lord's discography have Williams recording clarinet again 10 years later with Frankie Half Pint Jaxon, Lee Brown and Georgia White in 1940. Such as 'Papa Pleaser' went down with White on 18 April. DAHR and Lord have Williams with Sammy Price backing both Ruby Smith and Jack Meredith on 10 December 1941 before largely disappearing into obscurity, though he might have maintained his skills playing privately.