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 (Results 51-75 of 142 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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

(Results 51-75 of 142 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Williams, Bert," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

Williams, Bert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

"Williams, Bert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.