Fess Williams

Fess Williams
Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra - Fess can be seen at the front in a white suit
Background information
Birth name	Stanley R. Williams
Also known as	Professor or "Fess"
Born	(1894-04-10)April 10, 1894 Danville, Kentucky, United States
Died	December 17, 1975(1975-12-17) (aged 81) New York
Genres	Jazz Swing
Instruments	Clarinet, alto saxophone
Years active	1920s–1940s
Associated acts	Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra, Fess Williams and His Joy Boys

Fess Williams (né Stanley R. Williams; April 10, 1894 – December 17, 1975) was an American jazz musician.

As a child Williams played several instruments. He received his formal education from N. Clark-Smith at Tuskegee University. By his late teens he had settled on clarinet, and soon afterwards formed the first of many bands he was to lead over the coming years.

From 1919 to 1923 he led his own band before moving to Chicago and joining Ollie Powers. In 1923 he formed a new group in order to back the variety act Dave and Tressie and traveled to New York with them in 1924. There he led a trio in Albany as well as a band that played at the Rosemont Ballroom.

In 1926 Williams formed the Royal Flush Orchestra. The popular hot jazz outfit held residency at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom for most of its life and recorded on the Victor, Vocalion, Gennett, Okeh, Brunswick, Champion, and Harmony labels. Williams, Frank Marvin, and Perry Smith supplied vocals. The flamboyant Williams typically performed wearing a white suit and top hat. During this time he recorded many of his own compositions such as Friction, Here 'Tis and his highest selling record, Hot Town.

In 1928 Williams traveled to Chicago where he temporarily fronted Dave Peyton's band at the Regal Theatre. Calling the group Fess Williams and His Joy Boys, he recorded two sides with them for Vocalion Records. The Royal Flush Orchestra continued to operate in his absence, and in 1929 he returned to New York to resume his duties.