Williams, Stanley R. "Fess"
Birth Year : 1894
Death Year : 1975
Stanley R. "Fess" Williams, born in Danville, KY, was a bandleader who played the clarinet, alto saxophone, and violin. In 1914, he moved to Cincinnati, then on to Chicago, settling in New York in 1924, where he formed the Royal Flush Orchestra in 1925. The band played at the Savoy Ballroom from 1926-1928 and had a number of recordings that featured musicians such as pianist Henry "Hank" Duncan from Bowling Green, KY. One of the group's most memorable and best selling recordings was Hot Town. Fess Williams led bands in both New York and Chicago. He was the uncle, by marriage, to Charles Mingus; his wife, Louise Williams, was Mingus' maternal aunt. For more see Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra, at redhotjazz.com; see album cover and listen to Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra on YouTube; see C. Kelsey, "Fess Williams Biography," an AOL Music website; and "Fess Williams" in Oxford Music Online Database.


Subjects: Migration North, Musicians, Opera, Singers, Song Writers
Geographic Region: Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky / New York