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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 76-100 of 142 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 3536 10-in. ca. Oct. 1906 He's a cousin of mine Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 3557 10-in. ca. Nov. 1906 The Mississippi stoker Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 3574 10-in. between January and September 1906 I've such a funny feeling when I look at you Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 3593 10-in. ca. Jan.-Mar. 1907 Fare thee! On ma way! Jes' gone! Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 4136 10-in. ca. Jan.-Aug. 1909 That's a plenty Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 4682 10-in. ca. June-July 1910 I'll lend you anything Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 4683 10-in. ca. June-July 1910 Something you don't expect Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 4684 10-in. ca. June-July 1910 Constantly Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 4849 10-in. ca. Aug. 1910 Play that barber-shop chord Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 38525 10-in. 1/3/1913 My landlady Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 38539 10-in. 1/7/1913 Woodman, spare that tree Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 38540 10-in. 1/7/1913 Nobody Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 38553 10-in. 1/13/1913 Borrow from me Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 38554 10-in. 1/14/1913 On the right road Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 38576 10-in. 1/21/1913 I certainly was going some Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 39204 10-in. 2/4/1914 You can't get away from it Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 39205 10-in. 2/4/1914 The Darktown Poker Club Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 45906 10-in. 8/2/1915 I'm neutral Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 45907 10-in. 8/2/1915 Everybody Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, author, speaker  
Columbia 45911 10-in. 8/4/1915 Indoor sports Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 45925 10-in. 8/7/1915 Samuel Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 45986 10-in. 9/7/1915 Hard times Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 46004 10-in. 9/9/1915 Purpostus Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Columbia 46005 10-in. 9/9/1915 Never mo' Bert Williams Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, songwriter  
Columbia 46006 10-in. 9/9/1915 Eph calls up the boss Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 76-100 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

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bert Williams

Discogs: Bert Williams

Grove: Bert Williams

IMDb: Bert Williams

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Williams, Bert, 1874-1922 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82115395

Wikidata: Bert Williams - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2397929

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/103647176

MusicBrainz: Bert Williams - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0e578f5c-bdfc-43fa-bd9a-9d5b67ef353b

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/97989

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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