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Bert Williams

Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was a Bahamian-born American entertainer, one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He is credited as being the first Black man to have the leading role in a film: Darktown Jubilee in 1914.

He was by far the best-selling Black recording artist before 1920. In 1918, the New York Dramatic Mirror called Williams "one of the great comedians of the world."

Williams was a key figure in the development of African-American entertainment. In an age when racial inequality and stereotyping were commonplace, he became the first black person to take a lead role on the Broadway stage, and did much to push back racial barriers during his three-decade-long career. Fellow vaudevillian W. C. Fields, who appeared in productions with Williams, described him as "the funniest man I ever saw—and the saddest man I ever knew."

Birth and Death Data: Born November 12, 1874 (Nassau), Died March 4, 1922 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, composer, songwriter, piano, speaker, organ, lyricist, author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 142 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]996 7-in. 10/11/1901 Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]996 10-in. 10/11/1901 Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]997 7-in. 10/11/1901 Good morning, Carrie Williams and Walker Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]997 10-in. 10/11/1901 Good morning, Carrie Williams and Walker Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]998 7-in. 10/11/1901 The ghost of a coon Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]998[a] 7-in. 10/11/1901 If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]998 10-in. 11/8/1901 The ghost of a coon Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]998[a] 10-in. 10/11/1901 If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]999 7-in. 10/11/1901 Her name's Miss Dinah Fair George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]999 10-in. 10/11/1901 Her name's Miss Dinah Fair Williams and Walker Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1083 7-in. 11/8/1901 The fortune-telling man Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1083 10-in. 11/8/1901 The fortune-telling man Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1084 10-in. 11/8/1901 My little Zulu babe Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1085 7-in. 11/8/1901 She's getting more like the white folks every day Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1085 10-in. 11/8/1901 She's getting more like the white folks every day Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1086 7-in. 10/11/1901 My little Zulu babe Williams and Walker Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1086 10-in. 10/11/1901 My little Zulu babe Williams and Walker Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1126 7-in. 12/4/1901 The fortune-telling man Silas Leachman Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1126 10-in. 12/4/1901 The fortune-telling man Silas Leachman Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1894 7-in. 1/14/1903 When it's all goin' out and nothin' comin' in Silas Leachman Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1894 10-in. 1/14/1903 All goin' out and nothin' comin' in Silas Leachman Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3069 10-in. 2/2/1901 If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes Arthur Collins Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3283 10-in. 4/26/1901 She is getting more like the white folks every day Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3284 10-in. 4/26/1901 The fortune-telling man Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3609 10-in. 10/11/1901 In my castle on the River Nile Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 142 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williams, Bert," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

Williams, Bert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

"Williams, Bert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803

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