John Overton Williams
John Overton "Bearcat" Williams (April 13, 1905 – November 24, 1996) was an American jazz reedist. Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but moved to Kansas City in his youth and learned to play saxophone there as a teenager, playing in a local dance band and touring with the vaudeville revue, Hits 'n Bits, in the first half of the 1920s. While with this show he met pianist Mary Elfrieda Scruggs, who became both a personal and professional companion; the pair married in 1926 and Mary Lou played piano in Williams' Synco Jazzers band on their 1927 tour and recording session.
John Overton Williams
- Name
- John Overton Williams
- Born
- 13 April 1905
- Birthplace
- Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
- Died
- 24 November 1996
- Place of death
- Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
- Occupation
- Musician, record producer
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
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wikidata · Q1702181 · wikipedia · John Overton Williams
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Bibliothèque nationale de France
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Biography
Biography
He then played with Terrence Holder's band, which Andy Kirk took over soon after; Williams played with Kirk for nearly a decade alongside his wife. In 1939 he left Kirk's group, and divorced Williams the following year. He went into the restaurant industry in the 1940s, but still played on the side with Cootie Williams and for several years with Earl Hines on baritone sax. His last performances were in the late 1940s, after which he worked in hospitality and in a factory. He died in Columbus, Ohio, aged 91.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — John Overton Williams • Birth Name — John Overton Williams • Alias — "Bearcat" • Born — 13 April 1905 • Birthplace — Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. • Died — 24 November 1996 • Place of death — Columbus, Ohio, U.S. • Instrument — Saxophone • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, record producer
Documentary record
John Overton Williams lived from 13 April 1905 to 24 November 1996 and is documented in the authority records of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. John Overton Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States (13 April 1905) and died in Columbus, Ohio, United States (24 November 1996).
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Memphis.
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article John Overton Williams, revision 1352695454 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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