R.I.P. Andre Williams

From Pravda Records Facebook:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of legendary artist Andre Williams. He died this afternoon in Chicago at the age of 82. He touched our lives and the lives of countless others. We love you Dre.

 

One of the true giants.

 

He sure was. But judging by the lack of comments here, I guess few are aware of who Andre was.
"Jail Bait", "Shake A Tailfeather", "Bacon Fat", "Cadillac Jack"... all classics. In the 60's and 70's he worked with Stevie Wonder, Ike and Tina Turner, Parliament, Funkadelic, Edwin Starr... Then of course he returned in the 90's to record and tour with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and The Sadies, among other bands. I'll never forget when he opened for Jon Spencer back in 1996. Most of the audience had no idea who AW was but from the moment he came out on stage in his white suit and hat, he owned that stage.

 

I have heard more about him than heard him, something I should remedy. I know him mostly for his work with JSBX and Sadies (a legendary band who are grossly underrated).

I just realized he wrote "Bacon Fat", which I've listened to many times via the cover version from the Zappa '88 tour album Broadway the Hard Way. Of course Zappa changed the lyrics to suit the political climate-du-jour, but the musical arrangement was tight. Listening to the original now.

 

More sad news



R.I.P. Andre

 

Rest In Peace.

 

"Would someone please pass the biscuits".


RIP

 

Andre was one of the absolute greats, a still-unsung writer and producer who had his hand in hundreds of incredible songs over the decades.

Got to see him live a few times in his later years, and knew someone who played for a long time in his touring band. He struggled hard, and for many years, to keep his health and wellness in check and enjoy a bit of a creative renaissance. The last time I saw him it was clear he was physically struggling, he had to take frequent breaks, but he could still put on a fairly electrifying performance. He had a lot of people who loved him and had his best interests in mind.

 

Sad to hear this news. Rest in peace.

 

R&B Singer Andre Williams Dies at 82
R&B singer Andre Williams has died at age 82

 

Andre is one of the greats...I first heard his version of "The Monkey Speaks His Mind" before I heard Dave Bartholomew's...

 

RIP

 

"Greasy Chicken"

 

One of the great funk treasures that he wrote:

 

RIP Andre Williams, a local Legend... terribly sad news today!

 

I didn't know who he was until hearing some of his songs. I think I need to fix that.

 

Andre and Ronnie Spector, 2001. Ronnie cut this again with Keith Richards a few years later but she got the idea from Andre and Billy Miller!

 

I haven't heard the name before but I know some of those songs. Just reading this thread has me thinking 'what an impressive career and life'. I'll have to look further into his work.

 

He should have been a millionaire several times over for writing Shake Your Tail Feather.

 

Elvis Costello did a great cover of this on Austin City Limits segueing directly to his song Monkey to a Man.

RIP

Though I admit now that I have always confused him with Lenny Williams. Shame on me.

 

(Facepalm!) Good lord...I have had the Shake A Tail Feather 45 (by the Five Du-Tones) since 1981 and didn't realize Andre wrote it...yes, it is a stone classic.

 

One of the Greats.

RIP.

 

Twine. Time. Sigh.

 

Check out this article from Detroit Free Press:

Andre Williams, edgy and influential Detroit R&B singer, dies at 82

Andre Williams, edgy and influential Detroit R&B singer, dies at 82

 

Maybe someone can help me with this. I distinctly remember hearing "Jail Bait" on the radio, circa 1960 or so. This was in the Washington, DC area. I was maybe 6-7 years old. Too young to know what the song meant, but I sure liked the sound. But, it's awfully hard to picture that tune being played on AM radio in those days....