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 101-125 of 142 records)

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

(Results 101-125 of 142 records)

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.