Sandy Williams

Alexander Balos Williams (October 24, 1906 – March 25, 1991) was an American jazz trombonist, perhaps best known for playing with the premier big bands of his day, especially the Chick Webb orchestra. Williams also recorded extensively with Ella Fitzgerald.

Sandy Williams
Sandy Williams ca. 1947, Times Square. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb.
Sandy Williams ca. 1947, Times Square.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb.
Background information
Birth nameAlexander Balos Williams
BornOctober 24, 1906
OriginUnited States Summerville, South Carolina
DiedApril 25, 1991(1991-04-25) (aged 84)
New York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Olympic Trophy
Instrument(s)Trombone

Early life

The son of a preacher, Williams was born in Summerville, South Carolina.[1] The family of thirteen moved to Washington, D.C., when Williams was very young however, the siblings lost their parents six months apart and were sent to an St. Joseph's Industrial School, an orphanage in Delaware.[2] There he joined the school band, but was put on tuba rather than trombone despite his requests. He began taking private lessons while attending Armstrong High School and occasionally played with his professor's sons. Williams played with several bands before he started playing with the Lincoln Theater pit band.[3]

Career

His admiration of Fletcher Henderson strongly influenced Williams jazz musicianship which received notice locally.[4] He played with Claude Hopkins in Atlantic City and later in 1929, joined Horace Henderson.[5] He became the solo trombonist with Fletcher Henderson himself [6] but was fired after setting off a firecracker on stage.[7] Williams became a staple player in the Chick Webb band from 1933 to 1940, where he later worked with a young Ella Fitzgerald.[8] Her performance of "A-Tisket A-Tasket" made her a star and the band her accompaniment.[9] He then worked with other bands including Cootie Williams (1942–43) with whom he recorded with Ella again.[10] His associations in music included Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, Art Hodes and Roy Eldridge whom he toured Europe with in 1947.[11]

Personal life and death

By 1943, Williams was suffering from alcoholism, and despite his attempts to become sober, he continued to drink with many of his band leaders until he suffered from a severe breakdown with his health in 1950 causing him to retire from music.[12] Although he tried to return to music, his dental health affected his embouchure causing him to quit music entirely.[13] He died on March 25, 1991, in New York City. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.

Select discography

With Ella Fitzgerald

With Rex Stewart

  • Ellingtonia (Dial)
  • Rex Stewart And His Orchestra (Plaza)
  • I'm The Luckiest Fool (Blue Star)

With Sidney Bechet

  • Sidney Bechet and His New Orleans Feetwarmers (Bluebird)

With Various Artists

  • Giants Of Small-Band Swing, Vols. 1 & 2 (Riverside)
  • The Complete H.R.S. Sessions (Mosaic)

Bibliography
  • "Boy Meets Horn", Rex Stewart, ISBN 1-871478-75-8 - Includes a description of the European tour.

Sources

References
  1. Dance, Stanley. The World of Swing. Da Capo Press, 2001. Print.
  2. Dance, Stanley. The World of Swing. Da Capo Press, 2001. Print.
  3. Dance, Stanley. The World of Swing. Da Capo Press, 2001. Print.
  4. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  5. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  6. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  7. Carr, Ian et al. The Rough Guide to Jazz. Rough Guides, 2004. Print.
  8. Fritts, Ron, and Ken Vail. Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years & Beyond. Scarecrow Press, 2003. Print.
  9. Dance, Stanley. The World of Swing. Da Capo Press, 2001. Print.
  10. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  11. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  12. Yanow, Scott. Classic Jazz: Third Ear - the Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001. Print.
  13. Carr, Ian et al. The Rough Guide to Jazz. Rough Guides, 2004. Print.
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