Bert Williams

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

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Berliner	1611	7-in.	11/16/1896	I thought I was a winner	George J. Gaskin	Male vocal solo	composer, lyricist
Berliner	1730	7-in.	5/19/1897	Miss Maria Johnson	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Berliner	1964	7-in.	Before Apr. 1899	Why don’t you get a lady of your own	John Terrell	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Berliner	011	7-in.	4/8/1899	I don’t like no cheap man	Len Spencer	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Berliner	0143	7-in.	Before June 1899	He’s up against the real thing now	Len Spencer	Male vocal solo	composer
Berliner	0989	7-in.	2/17/1900	The medicine man	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Berliner	01002	7-in.	2/19/1900	Why don't you get a lady of your own	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]647	7-in.	2/2/1901	If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]647	10-in.	9/19/1902	If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]741	7-in.	4/26/1901	She's getting more like the white folks every day	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]741	10-in.	4/26/1901	She's getting more like the white folks every day	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]742	7-in.	4/26/1901	My fortune-telling man	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]742	10-in.	4/26/1901	My fortune-telling man	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]987	10-in.	10/11/1901	I don't like that face you wear	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]987	7-in.	10/11/1901	I don't like that face you wear	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]991	10-in.	10/11/1901	In my castle on the River Nile	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]991	7-in.	10/11/1901	In my castle on the River Nile	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]992	10-in.	10/11/1901	The phrenologist coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]992	7-in.	10/11/1901	The phrenologist coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]993	10-in.	10/11/1901	Where was Moses when the light went out?	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]993	7-in.	10/11/1901	Where was Moses when the lights went out?	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]994	10-in.	10/11/1901	All going out and nothing coming in	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]994	7-in.	10/11/1901	When it's all going out and nothing coming in	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]995	10-in.	10/11/1901	Junie	George Walker	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]995	7-in.	10/11/1901	Junie	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-]996	7-in.	10/11/1901	Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins	George Walker	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]997	10-in.	10/11/1901	Good morning, Carrie	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]997	7-in.	10/11/1901	Good morning, Carrie	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix A-]998	7-in.	10/11/1901	The ghost of a coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
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, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]998	10-in.	11/8/1901	The ghost of a coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
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, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]999	10-in.	10/11/1901	Her name's Miss Dinah Fair	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
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-]1083	10-in.	11/8/1901	The fortune-telling man	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, baritone vocal
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-]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 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-]1086	7-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 B-]1894	10-in.	1/14/1903	All goin' out and nothin' comin' in	Silas F. Leachman	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer
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-]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	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]3610	10-in.	10/11/1901	The phrenologist coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]3613	10-in.	10/11/1901	Junie	George Walker	Male vocal solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]3615	10-in.	10/11/1901	The ghost of a coon	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]3616	10-in.	10/11/1901	If you love your baby, make dem goo-goo eyes	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	[Pre-matrix B-]3618	10-in.	10/11/1901	Her name's Miss Dinah Fair	Williams and Walker	Male vocal duet, with piano	instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	A-918	7-in.	1/14/1904	She's getting more like the white folks every day	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Victor	B-918	10-in.	1/14/1904	She's getting more like the white folks every day	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Victor	B-2568	10-in.	5/22/1905	Nobody	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	C-3338	12-in.	4/26/1906	Here it comes again	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-8078	10-in.	6/28/1909	That's a plenty	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-9043	10-in.	6/2/1910	You're gwine get somethin' what you don't expect	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-10937	10-in.	9/8/1911	Dat's harmony	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-12788	10-in.	1/10/1913	My landlady	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-18920	10-in.	12/21/1916	The ghost of a coon	Leighton Brothers	Male vocal duet, with guitar	songwriter
Victor	BS-77173	10-in.	12/4/1933	Nobody	Harry Wall	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer
Victor	PBVE-1307	10-in.	10/14/1931	Constantly	Phil Harris	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	composer
Victor	D6VB-3129	10-in.	11/13/1946	The dark town poker club	Phil Harris Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	composer
Columbia	1358	7-in.	ca. 1903-Oct. 1905	When it's all going out and nothing coming in	Dan W. Quinn	Male vocal duet, with piano	songwriter
Columbia	1358	10-in.	approximately 1903	When it's all going out and nothing coming in	Bob Roberts	Male vocal duet, with piano	songwriter
Columbia	3264	10-in.	ca. Jan.-Oct. 1905	Nobody	Arthur Collins	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Columbia	3410	10-in.	between January and June 1906	Pretty Desdemone	George Walker ; Bert Williams	Male vocal duet, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	3423	10-in.	ca. Jan.-June 1906	Nobody	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	3454	10-in.	between January and August 1906	Here it comes again	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	3504	10-in.	between January and November 1906	Let it alone	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	3515	10-in.	ca. Jan.-Nov. 1906	I'm tired of eating in the restaurants	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
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	vocalist, baritone vocal, composer
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	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
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	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	38553	10-in.	1/13/1913	Borrow from me	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	38554	10-in.	1/14/1913	On the right road	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
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	vocalist, baritone vocal, composer
Columbia	45906	10-in.	8/2/1915	I'm neutral	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	45907	10-in.	8/2/1915	Everybody	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra	author, speaker, vocalist, baritone vocal
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	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	46005	10-in.	9/9/1915	Never mo'	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra	songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	46006	10-in.	9/9/1915	Eph calls up the boss	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	46944	10-in.	7/22/1916	The Lee family	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	46945	10-in.	7/22/1916	I'm gone before I go	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	77341	10-in.	9/14/1917	No place like home	Bert Williams	Comic monologue, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	77344	10-in.	9/14/1917	Twenty years	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78025	10-in.	8/26/1918	O death where is thy sting	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78030	10-in.	8/29/1918	You'll find old Dixieland in France	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78031	10-in.	8/29/1918	When I return	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78298	10-in.	2/13/1919	Oh! Lawdy (Something's done got between Ebecaneezer and me)	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78299	10-in.	2/13/1919	Bring back those wonderful days	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78380	10-in.	4/4/1919	Everybody wants a key to my cellar	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78394	10-in.	4/16/1919	It's nobody's business but my own	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78411	10-in.	4/29/1919	Elder Eatmore's sermon on generosity	Bert Williams	Comic monologue	speaker
Columbia	78828	10-in.	11/24/1919	I'm sorry I ain't got it you could have it if I had it blues	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78833	10-in.	12/1/1919	The moon shines on the moonshine	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78834	10-in.	12/2/1919	Checkers (It's your move now)	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	78835	10-in.	12/2/1919	Somebody	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79126	10-in.	4/18/1920	Ten little bottles	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79127	10-in.	4/18/1920	Unlucky blues	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79163	10-in.	5/6/1920	Lonesome alimony blues	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79164	10-in.	5/6/1920	Get up	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79318	10-in.	6/28/1920	Save a little dram for me	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79402	10-in.	9/7/1920	I want to know where Tosti went (when he said goodbye)	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79484	10-in.	10/25/1920	You can't trust nobody	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79515	10-in.	11/12/1920	Eve cost Adam just one bone	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79516	10-in.	11/12/1920	You'll never need a doctor no more	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79566	10-in.	12/10/1920	My last dollar	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79567	10-in.	12/10/1920	I'm gonna quit Saturday	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79934	10-in.	7/12/1921	'Tain't no disgrace to run when you're skeered	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	79940	10-in.	7/13/1921	I ain't afraid of nuthin' dat's alive	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	80038	10-in.	10/24/1921	Brother low down	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	80040	10-in.	10/28/1921	Unexpectedly	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	80191	10-in.	2/24/1922	Not lately	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	30039	12-in.	9/26/1906	All in, out and down	Bert Williams	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	36538	12-in.	1/3/1913	You can't do nothing till Martin gets here	Bert Williams	Comic monologue	speaker
Columbia	36539	12-in.	1/3/1913	How? Fried	Bert Williams	Comic monologue	speaker
Columbia	49643	12-in.	6/27/1919	Elder Eatmore's sermon on "Generosity"	Bert Williams	Comic monologue, with mixed vocal trio and organ	speaker
Columbia	49644	12-in.	6/27/1919	Elder Eatmore's sermon on throwing stones	Bert Williams	Sermon, with male vocal solo and organ	speaker
Columbia	W142420	10-in.	7/12/1926	Let it alone	J. L. Bischof	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer
Columbia	W143772	10-in.	3/26/1927	Let it alone	Chris Bouchillon	Male vocal solo, with guitar	composer
OKeh	W404628	10-in.	12/9/1930	You gonna get something you don’t expect	Fiddlin' John Carson ; Virginia Reelers	Instrumental ensemble, with vocal	songwriter
Edison	8957	10-in.	5/3/1923	Constantly	Kaplan's Melodists	Jazz/dance band	composer
Edison	9836	10-in.	11/7/1924	You're gwine to get somethin' what you don't expect	Guy Hunter	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williams, Bert," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

Williams, Bert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

"Williams, Bert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.