Joe Williams

Joe Williams was born Joseph Goreed on December 12, 1918 in Cordele, Georgia. He moved to Chicago with his grandmother when he was three.

By the late '30's he started appearing in the Chicago clubs but it wasn't until 1954 when he got his big break as the male vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra. In 1956 he made his solo debut.

Williams left the Basie Band in 1961 and formed his own quartet in 1962. He toured constantly during the 1970's and in 1984 he recorded "Nothin' But the Blues" for which he won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal. He toured throughout the '90's until his death March 29, 1999 in Las Vegas.

I just finished listening to "Count Basie Swings- Joe Williams Sings" released in 1956 on Polygram. This is my favorite Joe Williams recording. There are 12 tunes on this recording including  his signature "Every Day I Have the Blues," the definitive "All Right, OK, You Win," "Roll 'Em Pete," "Teach Me Tonight," and "Too Close for Comfort."


Joe William's smooth baritone voice graced the Jazz world for six decades. He was the last great Big Band male vocalist.


Here's a video of Joe and the Count Basie Band at Carnegie Hall in 1981 doing Every Day I have the Blues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOuCvEMZRbo&feature=player_detailpage