Joe Williams (jazz singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Williams
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Williams in 1997
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Goreed |
| Born | December 12, 1918 Cordele, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | March 29, 1999 (aged 80) Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, swing, traditional pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1930s–1998 |
| Labels | Roulette, RCA Victor, Verve, Telarc |
| Associated acts | Lionel Hampton, Count Basie |
Joe Williams (born Joseph Goreed; December 12, 1918 – March 29, 1999) was a famous American jazz singer. He was known for his powerful voice. Joe sang with big bands like the Count Basie Orchestra and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He also sang with his own small groups. Besides singing, he appeared in two movies and sometimes worked as an actor.
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Life of Joe Williams
Joe Williams was born in Cordele, Georgia, in 1918. When he was about three years old, his mother and grandmother took him to Chicago. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago. As a teenager in the 1930s, he was part of a gospel music group called the Jubilee Boys. They performed in churches around Chicago.
Joe Williams' Music Career
Joe Williams started singing professionally in 1937. He often sang with big bands. He performed with Jimmie Noone's Orchestra and toured with Les Hite. In 1943, he sang with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in Boston. He also sang with Red Saunders in Chicago and Andy Kirk in New York.
In the late 1940s, Joe was not well and sang less often. But by 1950, he was back singing at the Club DeLisa in Chicago. This is where Count Basie heard him sing.
From 1954 to 1961, Joe Williams was the main singer for the Count Basie Orchestra. During this time, they made many popular recordings. Some of their big hits included "Every Day I Have the Blues" (recorded in 1955) and "Alright, Okay, You Win".
After leaving the Basie band, Joe Williams became a very successful solo artist. He performed at music festivals, in clubs, and on television. He and Count Basie remained good friends. Joe often appeared as a special guest with the Basie orchestra even after he left. He toured and recorded with many other musicians too. These included Harry "Sweets" Edison, Junior Mance, and George Shearing.
Joe Williams also worked with his own small music groups. These groups often included pianist Norman Simmons and guitarist Henry Johnson.
Joe Williams as an Actor
Joe Williams sang with the Basie orchestra in two movies. These were Jamboree in 1957 and Cinderfella in 1960. He also had acting roles. In 1970, he was in the movie The Moonshine War.
Many kids might remember him from TV. In 1985, he played "Grandpa Al" Hanks on The Cosby Show. He was Bill Cosby's father-in-law in the show. Joe Williams also appeared several times on Sesame Street in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1982, he played a famous jazz musician named Sonny Goodman in an episode of the TV series Lou Grant.
In his later years, Joe Williams often performed in hotels and clubs in Las Vegas. He also sang at festivals and on cruise ships. He continued to tour with the Basie Orchestra, even after Count Basie passed away. Joe Williams worked regularly until he died in Las Vegas in 1999 at the age of 80.
Awards and Honors for Joe Williams
Joe Williams won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1984. This was for his album Nothin' but the Blues. The album also won a Blues Music Award the next year. He was nominated for seven other Grammy awards during his career.
In 1988, he received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music. He also helped start the Fillius Jazz Archive at Hamilton College, where he also received an honorary degree.
In 1992, his 1955 recording of "Every Day I Have the Blues" with Count Basie was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. This means it was recognized as a very important recording. In 2001, Joe Williams was added to the Jazz Wall of Fame.
In 1988, Joe Williams and his wife, Jillean, created the Joe Williams Every Day Foundation. This foundation helps talented young musicians by offering them scholarships.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Williams para niños
