Spencer Williams

Full biography Spencer Williams

Spencer Williams (1889-1965) was an American composer, pianist, and singer known for his contributions to jazz and popular music. He was born in New Orleans and started playing the piano in his teenage years. Williams was an accomplished musician and by the early 1900s, he had started playing with various bands in the city.

In his early years as a composer, Williams wrote or co-wrote a number of songs that became popular, including "I Ain't Got Nobody" and "Royal Garden Blues." In 1925, he moved to Paris where he continued to write songs and special material for performers such as Josephine Baker. Williams became known for his unique style of composing, which incorporated elements of blues, ragtime, and jazz.

During his career, Williams wrote more than 100 songs, many of which were recorded by some of the biggest names in music, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Fats Waller. Some of his most well-known compositions include "Basin Street Blues," "Tishomingo Blues," and "I've Found a New Baby."

Throughout his life, Williams faced racial discrimination and struggled with addiction. However, he continued to write and perform music until his death in 1965. Williams' contributions to jazz and popular music have been recognized by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he remains a celebrated composer to this day.