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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 101-125 of 142 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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 April 27, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

Williams, Bert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103803.

"Williams, Bert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 27 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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