Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra was the main band of
clarinetist
This article lists notable musicians who have played the clarinet.
Classical clarinetists
* Laver Bariu
* Ernest Ačkun
* Luís Afonso
* Cristiano Alves
* Michel Arrignon
* Dimitri Ashkenazy
* Kinan Azmeh
* Alexander Bader
* Carl Baermann
* ...
Fess Williams
Fess Williams ''(né'' Stanley R. Williams; April 10, 1894 – December 17, 1975) was an American jazz musician.''Biography Index, A Cumulative Index to Biographical Material in Books and Magazines, Volume 10: September 1973 — August 1976'', Ne ...
from 1926–1930
Brief history
In 1926 Williams formed the Royal Flush Orchestra. The popular hot jazz outfit held residency at
Harlem's Savoy Ballroom
The Savoy Ballroom was a large ballroom for music and public dancing located at 596 Lenox Avenue, between 140th and 141st Streets in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
Lenox Avenue was the main thoroughfare through upper Harle ...
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.
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. The Royal Flush Orchestra continued to operate in his absence, and in 1929 he returned to New York to resume his duties.
The Royal Flush Orchestra recorded its last side in 1930.
Orchestra members
* Ralph Bedell - Drums
* Ollie Blackwell - Banjo
* Ralph Brown - Alto Saxophone
* Emanuel Casamore - Tuba
* Emanuel Clark - Trumpet
* Henry Duncan - Piano
* Felix Gregory - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
* Bobby Holmes - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
* David "Jelly" James - Trombone
* Lockwood Lewis - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
* Frank Marvin - Vocals
* Otto Mikell - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
* Andy Pendleton - Banjo
* Walter "Fats" Pichon - Piano
* Kenneth Roane - Trumpet
* Perry Smith - Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals
* George Temple - Trumpet
* Clinton Walker - Tuba
*
Professor Stanley Williams - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Vocals, Leader
Selected recordings
*
Hot Town
* Friction
listen to recording, via YouTube
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* Here 'Tis
External links
Fess Williams
at Red Hot Jazz Archive
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Jazz ensembles from New York City
Gennett Records artists