Andre Williams and The New Orleans Hellhounds

Biography

Andre Williams & the New Orleans Hellhounds represents a collaboration between legendary R&B and soul musician Andre Williams and a New Orleans-based band also known as the Morning 40 Federation. Andre Williams was born Zephire Andre Williams on November 1, 1936, in Bessemer, Alabama, and became a pioneering figure in R&B and early soul music. He began his professional career in Detroit during the 1950s with Fortune Records, where he performed with vocal groups including the Five Dollars and the Don Juans, recording twelve singles between 1955 and 1961. Williams became known for his sexually suggestive lyrics, flamboyant stage presence, and incorporation of spoken passages that presaged rap music, earning the nickname "Mr. Rhythm" from comedian Redd Foxx. His career spanned multiple decades and record labels, including work with Motown Records, One-derful Records in Chicago, and Chess Records, during which he produced hits for other artists and managed soul singer Edwin Starr.

After decades of struggle including a cocaine-fueled period of homelessness in Chicago during the 1980s, Williams experienced a remarkable comeback in the 1990s. In 1999, he began his relationship with Bloodshot Records, recording a country album titled Red Dirt with the Sadies. In 2007, Williams completed recording an album with the New Orleans-based band Morning 40 Federation, which was released in 2008 as Can You Deal With It by Bloodshot Records and credited to Andre Williams & the New Orleans Hellhounds. The album featured a ten-piece ensemble delivering a rollicking sound over nine tracks spanning 33 minutes. This late-career collaboration represented Williams' continued artistic vitality and his ability to adapt to contemporary musical contexts while maintaining his distinctive style.

Fun Facts

• Andre Williams used his older brother's birth certificate to enlist in the Navy while underage to escape his difficult home situation, but was court-martialed for fraudulent enlistment and given a bad conduct discharge when his brother was drafted.
• While bodyguarding Smokey Robinson at Motown Records, Williams fired a shot at a stranger who tried to approach Robinson, an incident that led to his departure from the label despite Robinson's appreciation for his protection.
• During his period of homelessness in Chicago in the 1980s, Williams recalled sitting on a bridge in 40-below-zero wind chill wearing five pairs of pants and nine shirts, panhandling for quarters to survive.
• Williams' early musical style incorporated spoken passages in a manner that could be interpreted as a precursor to rap music, making him an innovative figure in the evolution of African American musical expression.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Devora Brown - Fortune Records owner who signed Williams after witnessing his performance at the Warfield Theatre and invited him to join the vocal group the Five Dollars (Fortune Records recordings with the Five Dollars and Don Juans) [1955-1961]
• B.B. King - Blues legend who gave Williams a plane ticket to California during a difficult period in his life around 1970 (Personal support and mentorship) [circa 1970]

Key Collaborators

• The New Orleans Hellhounds (Morning 40 Federation) - New Orleans-based ten-piece band that collaborated with Williams on his 2008 album (Can You Deal With It (2008)) [2007-2008]
• Ike & Tina Turner - R&B duo with whom Williams signed on and worked during the late stages of their partnership (Live performances and touring) [circa 1970]
• The Sadies - Canadian rock band that collaborated with Williams on his country album (Red Dirt (1999)) [1999]
• The Dirtbombs - Band that backed two songs on Williams' album The Black Godfather (The Black Godfather (2000)) [2000]
• The Goldstars - Band that collaborated with Williams on his album Nightclub (Nightclub (2011)) [2011]

Artists Influenced

• Stevie Wonder - Williams co-wrote Stevie Wonder's first song (Thank You for Loving Me) [early 1960s]
• The Five Du-Tones - Group that recorded a hit version of Williams' composition (Shake a Tail Feather (1963)) [1963]
• Ike & Tina Turner - Recording artists who recorded a hit version of Williams' composition (Shake a Tail Feather) [1960s]
• Alvin Cash & the Crawlers - Group that recorded a major hit produced by Williams (Twine Time (reached #14 on charts)) [1960s]
• The Contours - Soul group whose albums Williams supervised (Two or more albums) [1960s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia