Biography
Joe Williams was born on December 12, 1918, in Cordele, Georgia, but was raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he was immersed in the city’s rich blues and jazz culture. He began singing in gospel groups as a teenager, notably with the Jubilee Boys, and made his professional debut in 1937 with clarinetist Jimmie Noone. Throughout the 1940s, Williams performed with several prominent big bands, including those led by Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, and Andy Kirk, establishing himself as a versatile and powerful vocalist. His career reached new heights in 1954 when he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, becoming the band’s featured male vocalist and helping to revitalize its popularity. Williams’s smooth baritone voice and mastery of blues and ballads made him a standout, with hits like 'Every Day I Have the Blues' and 'Alright, Okay, You Win' becoming signature songs. After leaving Basie in 1961, Williams launched a successful solo career, fronting small combos and collaborating with jazz greats such as Harry Edison, George Shearing, and Cannonball Adderley. He remained a major figure in jazz, touring and recording well into the 1990s, and was recognized with a Grammy Award and multiple nominations. Williams passed away on March 29, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest jazz vocalists of the 20th century.
Fun Facts
- Joe Williams was initially hired as a stage doorman at the Regal Theatre in Chicago, where he first encountered Count Basie in 1942.
- His 1955 recording of 'Every Day I Have the Blues' with Count Basie reached number two on the R&B charts and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
- Williams won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1984 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music in 1988.
- He toured internationally with Clark Terry in 1977, performing from Egypt to India.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Jimmie Noone - early professional mentor (Jimmie Noone's band) [1937]
- Coleman Hawkins - big band experience and influence (Coleman Hawkins Orchestra) [1940s]
- Lionel Hampton - early big band experience (Lionel Hampton Orchestra) [1942]
Key Collaborators
- Count Basie - featured vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra (Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings; The Greatest!) [1954–1961]
- Harry Edison - co-leader of small group and frequent collaborator (Joe Williams & Harry Edison albums) [1960s]
- George Shearing - recording and touring collaborator (George Shearing Quintet recordings) [1960s–1970s]
- Cannonball Adderley - recording collaborator (Cannonball Adderley recordings) [1960s]
- Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra - recording and touring collaborator (Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra recordings) [1970s]
Artists Influenced
- Kurt Elling - influenced by Williams's vocal style and phrasing (Kurt Elling's jazz vocal albums) [1990s–present]
- Mark Murphy - admired Williams's blues and ballad interpretations (Mark Murphy's jazz vocal albums) [1960s–2000s]
- Al Jarreau - influenced by Williams's smooth baritone and jazz-blues fusion (Al Jarreau's jazz vocal albums) [1970s–2000s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting Joe Williams & Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra | 1994-10-28 | Album |
| Can't Resist You - My Summer Love | 2016-02-07 | Album |
| The Greatest!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards | 1956-01-01 | Album |
| You Are Free | 2023-07-04 | Album |
| Jazz Inspiration | 2011-10-17 | Album |
| Together/Have A Good Time | 2001-09-11 | Album |
| That Holiday Feelin' | 1990-01-01 | Album |
| Me and the Blues | 1964-09-12 | Album |
| One O'Clock Jump | 1957-06-01 | Album |
| Joe Williams' Finest Hour | 2001-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Alright, Okay, You Win
- Alright, Okay, You Win (The Complete Clef & Verve Fifties Studio Recordings)
- Lil' Darlin' (The Atomic Mr Basie)
- Woman's Got Soul (Presenting Joe Williams & Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra)
- Have You Met Miss Jones (Can't Resist You - My Summer Love)
- Every Day I Have the Blues
- Get Out Of My Life Woman (Presenting Joe Williams & Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra)
- Have You Met Miss Jones (You Are Free)
- Jingle Bells - Bombay Dub Orchestra Remix
- Teach Me Tonight (The Complete Clef & Verve Fifties Studio Recordings)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
count basie/joe williams has been played 19 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4, 2026 | 16:38 | PEPPERMINT PIPESfrom BACK WITH BASIE | Sitting Inw/ Elizabeth Meneray | |
| Dec 28, 2025 | 17:36 | Red Hot Mamafrom BACK WITH BASIE | Sitting Inw/ Elizabeth Meneray | |
| Dec 22, 2025 | 02:39 | What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? | The Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis | |
| Dec 18, 2025 | 10:26 | Oh! Lady Be Good | Traditional Jazzw/ Sally Young | |
| Dec 15, 2025 | 17:19 | festival bluesfrom at the montreux jazz festival | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean | |
| Dec 7, 2025 | 06:18 | The Midnite Sun Never Setsfrom The Classic Rouleette Collection 1958-1959 | The Sunday Morning Jazz Setw/ Mark Landesman | |
| Nov 26, 2025 | 18:29 | every day i have the bluesfrom count basie swings,joe williams sings | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Al Colón | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | 16:31 | BOOTIE'S BLUESfrom ON THE ROAD | Sitting Inw/ Elizabeth Meneray | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | 16:31 | THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOUfrom ON THE ROAD | Sitting Inw/ Elizabeth Meneray | |
| Nov 13, 2025 | 11:13 | Autumn Leavesfrom Long Live The Chief | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici |