Clarence Williams (on piano) & His Orchestra (~1925)
The restlessness and entrepreneurial energy that would drive this prolific jazzman - one-part musician, one-part businessman and one-part hustler - were already apparent when Clarence Williams was 12, running away from home to join a traveling minstrel show run by popular comedian Billy Kersands.
That started a remarkable journey from New Orleans to Chicago to New York that would see this one-time honky-tonk pianist, vaudeville showman and cabaret manager - plus songwriter (including some that weren't really his own), music publisher, theatrical producer, A&R man and Harlem Renaissance convenor - play with some of the best, notably including early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Bessie Smith.
Clarence Williams was supposed to retire in 1943, having sold his back catalogue (of more than 2,000 songs) to Decca Records for US$50,000. He was soon back in business however, running his own used goods store, The Harlem Thrift Shop. He continued to write songs until he lost his sight in 1956, after being hit by a cab.
