Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams (July 13, 1915 – September 14, 2002) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

and

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

saxophonist, bandleader, and songwriter. His record " The Huckle-Buck", recorded in December 1948, was one of the most successful R&B records of the time. In his ''Honkers and Shouters'', Arnold Shaw credited Williams as one of the first to employ the honking

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

solo that became the hallmark of rhythm and blues and rock and roll in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Biography

Williams was born in

Lewisburg, Tennessee Lewisburg is a city in, and the county seat of Marshall County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 12,288 in 2020. Lewisburg is located in Middle Tennessee, fifty miles south of Nashville and fifty-two miles north of Huntsville, Alaba ...

, and grew up in

Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Warren County, Kentucky, United States. Founded by pioneers in 1798, Bowling Green was the provisional capital of Confederate Kentucky during the American Civil War. As of the ...

, before moving with his parents to

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

, at the age of 13. He started learning saxophone and played in school bands before forming his own band, Paul Williams and his Kings of Rhythm, with the trumpeter Lloyd Henderson, in the mid-1930s, and playing in local clubs. The band split up during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and Williams then joined Clarence Dorsey's band. He toured with the band, then known as the Sensational Six, until 1945, when he left to join another local band, led by King Porter (born James A. Pope, 1916–1983).Bjorn, Lars; Gallert, Jim (2001).
''Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920–60''
University of Michigan Press. pp.186–188. Williams became known for his showmanship in Porter's band. He made his first recordings with Porter for the Paradise label in 1947. He attracted the attention of the agent and record producer Teddy Reig and, under Reig's tutelage, formed his own band. Credited as the Paul Williams Sextette, they recorded in Detroit for

Savoy Records Savoy Records is an American record company and label established by Herman Lubinsky in 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. Savoy specialized in jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. In September 2017, Savoy was acquired by Concord Bicycle Musi ...

in September 1947, and "Thirty-Five Thirty" (named for Joe Von Battle's record shop at 3530 Hastings Street) reached number 8 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...

(then called the

race records Race records were 78-rpm phonograph records marketed to African Americans between the 1920s and 1940s.Oliver, Paul. "Race record." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 13 Feb. 2015. They primarily contained race music, comprising various Afri ...

chart) in early 1948. Wiliams followed up its success with three further chart hits released in 1948 – "The Twister" (which, according to

Joel Whitburn Joel Carver Whitburn (November 29, 1939 – June 14, 2022) was an American author and music historian, responsible for setting up the Record Research, Inc. series of books on record chart placings. Early life Joel Carver Whitburn was born in Wa ...

, "had a 'rockin' beat" and "laid the foundation for

Hank Ballard Hank Ballard (born John Henry Kendricks; November 18, 1927 – March 2, 2003) was an American singer and songwriter, the lead vocalist of The Midnighters and one of the first rock and roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s. He played an inte ...

's ' The Twist'"); "Waxie Maxie"; and "Walkin' Around" – all featuring the honking

tenor sax The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

of Wild Bill Moore. Williams and his band toured nationally, and his concerts became increasingly popular and riotous. Reig claimed that he taught Williams to perform vigorously, "kicking as he played, bending and dipping, getting down on the floor while blowing that saxophone." At a rehearsal for a concert, either in Newark or

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

, he heard

Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical ...

and his band playing a tune, originally known as "D'Natural Blues", written for Millinder by

Andy Gibson Albert "Andy" Gibson (November 6, 1913 – February 11, 1961) was an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer. Career Gibson played violin early on before settling on trumpet. Although he played professionally in many orchestras, he did ...

. The composition was strongly influenced by " Now's the Time", recorded by

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

for Savoy Records at a 1945 session produced by Reig.Krinsky, Steve (2001)
"Do the Hucklebuck"
Retrieved October 20, 2015. Williams began performing Gibson's composition, and at a show in

Devon, Pennsylvania Devon is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Tredyffrin and Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,515 at the 2010 census. The area is part of the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs. Geography Devon is locate ...

, noticed that audience members were performing a new dance, the Hucklebuck, to it. Williams renamed the tune " The Huckle-Buck", and his recording, made in December 1948 with Reig producing, rapidly rose to the top of the

. It reached number 1 in March 1949 and stayed in that position for 14 weeks, spending a total of 32 weeks on the chart. It reportedly sold half a million copies and broke sales records.Davies, Phil
"Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams"
BlackCatRockabilly. Retrieved October 20, 2015. "The Huckle-Buck" established Williams's popularity, and he was billed as Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams for the rest of his career. He had three more R&B chart successes in 1949 – "House Rocker", "He Knows How to Hucklebuck", and "Pop-Corn" – but these failed to match the earlier record's success. However, his band continued to be popular. The band played on many of

Amos Milburn Joseph Amos Milburn (April 1, 1927 – January 3, 1980) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in Houston, Texas, and died there 52 years later. One commentator noted, "Milburn exce ...

's recordings. With Tiny Grimes, Williams co-headlined the first

Moondog Coronation Ball The Moondog Coronation Ball was a concert held at the Cleveland Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 21, 1952. It is generally accepted as the first major rock and roll concert. Background Alan Freed "had joined WJW Radioin 1951 as the host ...

, promoted by

Alan Freed Albert James "Alan" Freed (December 15, 1921 – January 20, 1965) was an American disc jockey. He also produced and promoted large traveling concerts with various acts, helping to spread the importance of rock and roll music throughout Nor ...

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...

on March 21, 1952, often claimed to be the first

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...

concert, and was the only act to perform before the show was abandoned because of the size of the crowd.Biography at official website
Retrieved October 20, 2015. He also played on many of the nationwide concert tours organised by Freed. Williams left Savoy Records in 1952 and recorded for several labels thereafter. Band members during the 1950s included Moore, Noble "Thin Man" Watts, the trumpeter Phil Guilbeau, and the singers Danny Cobb, Jumpin' Jimmy Brown, Joan Shaw and Connie Allen. Williams worked in the

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...

house band, backing singers including

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the " Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for At ...

, and performed with musicians including

Elmore James Elmore James ( Brooks; January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader. Noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice, James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ...

and Dave "Baby" Cortez. He was the musical director for

Lloyd Price Lloyd Price (March 9, 1933May 3, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter, record executive and bandleader, known as "Mr. Personality", after his 1959 million-selling hit, "Personality". His first recording, " Lawdy Miss Clawdy", was a hit for S ...

and

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the Honori ...

in the early 1960s and performed with

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

and Tommy Tucker. He worked as a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

in New York City before setting up a booking agency in 1968. In 1986, he appeared at a Smithsonian symposium on

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantl ...

at the

National Museum of American History The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. Among the items on display is t ...

. He received the

Rhythm and Blues Foundation The Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of rhythm and blues music. The idea for the foundation came in 1987 during discussions about royalties with ...

Pioneer Award in 1992. Williams died in September 2002, in New York City, at the age of 87.

Discography

Singles

* "Hastings St. Bounce" / "Way Late" (Savoy 459, 1947) * "Thirty-Five Thirty" / "Come with Me Baby" (Savoy 661, 1948) * "Bouncing With Benson" / "Boogie Ride" (Savoy 664, 1948) * "The Twister, Part 1" / "Part 2" (Savoy 665, 1948) * "Waxie Maxie" / "Spider Sent Me" (Savoy 670, 1948) * "Bouncing with Buddy, Part 1" / "Part 2" (Savoy 674, 1948) * "Walkin' Around" / (Savoy 680, 1949) * " The Huckle-Buck" / "Hoppin' John" (Savoy 683, 1949) * "House Rocker" / "He Knows How to Hucklebuck" (Savoy 702, 1949) * "Pop-Corn" / "Free Dice" (Savoy 711, 1949) * "Cranberries" / "Juice Bug Boogie" (Savoy 721, 1949) * "What's Happening" / "Camp Meeting Bounce" (Savoy 734, 1950) * "Rye Boogie" / "Weasel Swing" (Savoy 751, 1950) * "Jeep's Blues" / "Paul's Boogie" (Savoy 758, 1951) * "Turtle Rock" / "Blues at Daybreak" (Savoy 773, 1952) * "Rockin' Chair Blues" / "Sinners' Hop, Part 1" (Savoy 814, 1952) * "Blowin' the Boogie" / "It's All Over Baby" (Savoy 831, 1952) * "I Need Your Love" / "I'm So Happy" (Savoy 841, 1952) * "Hello" / "Rock It Davy Crockett" (Capitol F3205, 1955) * "You're Breaking My Heart No More" / "It's Over" (Capitol F3255, 1955) * "Give It Up" / "Pass the Buck" (Vee Jay VJ234, 1957) * "Walkin' the Track" / "Back to Back" (7 Arts S713, 1961) * "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" / "I Can't Stand It" (Ascot AS2114, 1962) Sources:"Paul Williams"
45cat.com.

Albums

* Paul Williams And His Orchestra Featuring Noble Watts - The Hucklebuck (Saxophonograph, 1981) * The Complete Recordings Volume 1 1947-1949 ‎(Blue Moon, 1999) * The Complete Recordings 1949-1952 - Volume 2‎ (Blue Moon, 1999) * The Complete Recordings 1952-1956 - Volume 3 (Blue Moon, 2001) With

*''

'' (Atlantic, 1957)

References

External Links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Paul 1915 births 2002 deaths American rhythm and blues musicians American blues saxophonists Songwriters from Tennessee Songwriters from Kentucky Savoy Records artists Vee-Jay Records artists 20th-century American musicians People from Lewisburg, Tennessee Musicians from Bowling Green, Kentucky