Elmer Williams

Elmer "Tone" Williams (1905 – June 1962) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist,

Elmer Williams was one of the early tenorsax players with personality and good qualities, known primarily for his works with Chick Webb, so definitely deserving to be remembered.

Williams worked with Claude Hopkins (1926-1927), then he joined Webb's Orchestra in 1927. Along with this band, Williams appeared on Louis Armstrong's 1932 The Complete RCA Victor Recordings.

Elmer worked mainly with Chick Webb until 1934 (briefly with McKinney's Cotton Pickers in summer of 1931). After a little break, he continues to work with Webb until 1936.

From 1936 until 1939 he worked regularly with Fletcher Henderson, then joined Horace Henderson in June 1939.

In 1941 he was with Ella Fitzgerald, subsequently with Lucky Millinder (1944–45) and Claude Hopkins again (1946).

He can be seen playing with Noble Sissle's Orchestra in the film short “Bob Howard’s House Party” (1947). This scene was reused in the Race Film “Murder With Music” (1948).

Elmer Williams toured with Herbert ‘Kat’ Cowens in summer of 1950, later in the 1950s worked in Milan, Italy, with tenorist Freddy Mitchell’s band.

In later life he suffered from diabetes; eventually he had both legs amputated, but continued to play ‘gigs’ in a wheelchair.

Birth and Death Data: Died 1962

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1932 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, saxophone, clarinet

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 50 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-74822 10-in. 12/8/1932 I hate to leave you now Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with trumpet solo and male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-100360 10-in. 4/9/1936 I'm a fool for loving you Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-100361 10-in. 4/9/1936 Moonrise on the lowlands Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-100362 10-in. 4/9/1936 I'll always be in love with you Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-100363 10-in. 4/9/1936 Jangled nerves Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2557 10-in. 7/31/1946 How come you do me like you do Lil Green Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2558 10-in. 7/31/1946 That old feeling Lil Green Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2559 10-in. 7/31/1946 Last go round blues Lil Green Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2560 10-in. 7/31/1946 No good man Lil Green Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 38548 10-in. 9/5/1934 Give me a heart to sing to Ethel Waters instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38549 10-in. 9/5/1934 I ain't gonna sin no more Ethel Waters instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38550 10-in. 9/5/1934 Trade mark Ethel Waters instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38551 10-in. 9/5/1934 You're going to leave the old home, Jim-1 Ethel Waters instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38593 10-in. 9/10/1934 That rhythm man Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38594 10-in. 9/10/1934 On the sunny side of the street Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38595 10-in. 9/10/1934 Lona-1 Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 38596 10-in. 9/10/1934 Blue minor-1 Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39138 10-in. 11/19/1934 It's over because we're through Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39140 10-in. 11/19/1934 Don't be that way Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39141 10-in. 11/19/1934 What a shuffle-1 Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39142 10-in. 11/19/1934 Blue Lou Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39614 10-in. 6/12/1935 I'll chase the blues away Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39615 10-in. 6/12/1935 Down home rag-1 Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39616 10-in. 6/12/1935 Are you here to stay? Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 39617 10-in. 6/12/1935 Love and kisses Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 50 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williams, Elmer," accessed December 29, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113999.

Williams, Elmer. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113999.

"Williams, Elmer." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 29 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113999

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