Williams, Clarence

Williams, Clarence

(1898–1965) composer, publisher; born in Plaquemine, La. When he was 13 he traveled as a singer and dancer with a minstrel show from New Orleans. He settled in New York and in the 1920s supervised an exceptional series of small-band recordings with Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and other notable musicians. He was an important promoter and publisher of such artists as Fats Waller, Willie “the Lion” Smith and Spencer Williams.