Bert Williams

Bert Williams was one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920. In 1918, the New York Dramatic Mirror called Williams "one of the great comedians of the world."

Williams was a key figure in the development of African-American entertainment. In an age when racial inequality and stereotyping were commonplace, he became the first black American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage, and did much to push back racial barriers during his career. Fellow vaudevillian W.C. Fields, who appeared in productions with Williams, described him as "the funniest man I ever saw – and the saddest man I ever knew."


Total: 24

Brother Low Down
Eve Cost Adam Just One Bone
Everybody
Everybody Wants a Key to My Cellar
Famous Songs of Bert Williams
Get Up
I'll Lend You Anything
I'm Neutral
I'm Sorry I Ain't Got it You Could Have it if I Ha...
Let It Alone
Lonesome Alimony Blues
My Landlady
My Landlady
My Last Dollar
Nobody
O Death, Where is Thy Sting?
Oh! Lawdy (Something's Done Got Between Ebecaneeze...
Purpostus; Never Mo
Something You Don't Expect
Ten Little Bottles; Unlucky Blues
The Moon Shiens On the Moonshine; Somebody
Woodman, Spare That Tree
You Can't Get Away From It
You Can't Trust Nobody