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Singers · 1918–1999

Joe Williams

American jazz singer (1918–1999)

Born: 12 December 1918
Cordele
Died: 29 March 1999
Las Vegas
Country: United States
Active: 1930–1998
Record labels: Blue Note, Verve Records, Roulette Records, Inc., Apex
Discography: 41 albums

Biography

Joe Williams was a jazz musician who played voice. Joe Williams was born on 12 December 1918 in Cordele and died on 29 March 1999 in Las Vegas. The music is usually filed under blues and swing. Record labels: Blue Note, Verve Records, Roulette Records, Inc. and Apex. The discography here lists 41 albums, from “THE GREATEST!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards” (1955) to “End of a Beautiful Friendship” (2020). Honours include Distinguished Nevadan (1987), NEA Jazz Masters and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Joe Williams (born Joseph Goreed; December 12, 1918 – March 29, 1999) was an American jazz singer. He sang with big bands, such as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and with small combos. He sang in two films with the Basie orchestra and sometimes worked as an actor.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

THE GREATEST!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards 1955

Sing Along With Basie 1958 · Roulette

Breakfast Dance and Barbecue 1959 · Live

Everyday I Have the Blues 1959 · Roulette Jump For Joy 1963 · RCA Victor The Song Is You 1965 · RCA Victor Something Old, New And Blue 1967 · Solid State Records Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones / Mel Lewis: The Jazz Orchestra 1968 · Solid State Records Worth Waiting For... 1970 · Blue Note A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry 1985 · Roulette Having the Blues Under a European Sky 1985 I Just Want to Sing 1985 · Delos Dave Pell's Prez Conference 1986 · GNP Crescendo Records The Overwhelming Joe Williams 1988 · Bluebird In Good Company 1989 · Verve Joe Williams With Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra 1990 · LRC Ltd. That Holiday Feelin' 1990 · Verve

A Swingin' Night at Birdland 1991 · Live

Joe Williams Live 1991 · Live

A Night at Count Basie’s 1992 · Live

Ballad and Blues Master 1992 · Jazz Heritage

Every Night (live at Vine St.) 1992 · Live

Joe Williams Sings Everyday 1992 · DENON

Live at Orchestra Hall, Detroit 1993 · Live

Feel the Spirit 1994 · Telarc Jazz Here's to Life 1994 · Telarc Joe Williams & Friends 1994 · Spotlite Jazz Joe Williams With Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra 1994

Live in Vegas 1995 · Live

Me and the Blues 1999 The Heart and Soul of Joe Williams and George Shearing 2001 · KOCH Jazz Together / Have a Good Time 2001 · Roulette Jazz

At Newport ’63 2002 · Live

Blues in My Heart 2002

Havin' a Good Time 2005 · Live

Music for Lovers 2011 · Blue Note Memories Ad-Lib 2015 · Roulette End of a Beautiful Friendship 2020 Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz With Guest Joe Williams Nothin but the Blues

The Greatest!: Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards

Also plays on

Albums where Joe Williams is credited as a sideman

1972	Count Basie + Voices — Count Basie	vocals
1988	The Men in My Life — Lena Horne	vocals
1993	Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings — Count Basie & Joe Williams	vocals
1994	Blue and Sentimental — Cleo Laine	vocals
1996	The Grand Encounter — Dianne Reeves	vocals
1999	Too Marvelous for Words — Count Basie	vocals

Awards

Historic 78 rpm records

Dance of the Red Skins TODD RHODES ORCHESTRA · Todd Rhodes · Joe Williams · Huestell Talley… · 1947 archive.org ↗
SWOON BOULEVARD TODD RHODES ORCHESTRA · Todd Rhodes · Joe Williams · Huestell Talley… · 1948 archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Joe Williams play?

Joe Williams is known for playing voice.

When and where was Joe Williams born?

Joe Williams was born 12 December 1918 in Cordele.

What are Joe Williams's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Sing Along With Basie (1958), Everyday I Have the Blues (1959), Jump For Joy (1963), The Song Is You (1965) and Something Old, New And Blue (1967).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.