Research Catalog

Title

Oral history interview with Earl Williams.

Publication

New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1994.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Williams, Earl
• Smith, Warren, 1934-
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Description

2 videodiscs (113 min.) : sound, color; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

The oral history interview with Earl Williams begins with his childhood in Detroit, Michigan. He began studying drums at the age of 9. He studied at the Detroit Conservatory of Music and the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts. At age fourteen, Mr. Williams began playing professionally around Detroit. One of his first experiences was playing with Lester Young. A year after graduating from high school, Mr. Williams left Detroit to tour with his father's (Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams) big band. While with the band he played with such artists as Ruth Brown, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Sam Cooke, and Big Joe Turner. After leaving his father's band and moving to New York, he joined pianist Eddie Heywood. He worked with the top artists of the day, eventually working as the house drummer at New York's famous Apollo Theatre. In the early 1970s he worked with Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Melba Moore, Freda Payne. Williams was very active as a studio musician in New York. He discusses the business aspects of being a jazz musician.

Subject

• Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 > Influence
• Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974 > Influence
• Horne, Lena > Influence
• Moore, Melba > Influence
• Moore, Melba dx Influence
• Roach, Max, 1924-2007 > Influence
• Ross, Diana, 1944- > Influence
• Turner, Joe, 1911-1985 > Influence
• Williams, Earl > Interviews
• Williams, Earl > Childhood and youth
• Young, Lester, 1909-1959 > Influence
• Tizol, Juan, 1900-1984 > Influence
• African American musicians
• Drummers (Musicians) > United States > Interviews
• Jazz musicians > United States > Interviews
• Percussion music (Jazz)
• Percussionists > United States > Interviews

Genre/Form

• Interviews.
• Oral histories.

Note

• Interviewer, Warren Smith.
• The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Credits (note)

• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Terms of Use (note)

• Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography (note)

• Earl Williams, a native of Detroit, Michigan, is a jazz drummer, publisher and teacher.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Call Number

Sc Visual DVD-1137

OCLC

1129597721

Title

Oral history interview with Earl Williams.

Production

New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1994.

Country of Producing Entity

United States.

Type of Content

two-dimensional moving image

Type of Medium

video

Type of Carrier

videodisc

Digital File Characteristics

video file DVD

Credits

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Event

Recorded July 13, 1994 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Terms Of Use

Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography

Earl Williams, a native of Detroit, Michigan, is a jazz drummer, publisher and teacher.

Linking Entry

Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Connect to:

Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Added Author

Williams, Earl, interviewee.

Smith, Warren, 1934- interviewer.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Research Call Number

Sc Visual DVD-1137

Sc Visual VRC-308 MII videotape