Dootsie Williams

Dootsie Williams
Dootsie Williams
Birth name Walter Dootsie Williams
Born June 17, 1911(1911-06-17)
Origin Alabama
Died August 21, 1991(1991-08-21) (aged 80)
Genres Comedy, Doo-wop, gospel
Occupations Record executive, record producer, band leader
Years active 1940s–1975
Labels Dooto, Dootone
Associated acts Redd Foxx
The Penguins
Papa John Creach

Dootsie Williams is an American record producer, and record label owner who released early records by Redd Foxx and The Penguins.

Contents

Early life

Walter Dootsie Williams was born in Alabama on June 17, 1911.[1]

Career

Williams was a leader of the Harlem Dukes band in the 1940s. While performing at gigs, he came up with the idea to record other artists.[2]

In 1949, Williams founded the Blue Records label. Two years later he changed the name to Dootone. One of the first artists he recorded on Dootone was a violinist named Johnny Creach, who years later would become popular at Woodstock as Papa John Creach.[3]

In 1954, he recorded a local group called The Penguins, who would have a huge hit with "Earth Angel."[3]

While the label would record a wide variety of music, it would be best known for a series of comedy recordings by Redd Foxx.[4] Williams saw the comedian perform at the Brass Rail, a local Los Angeles nightclub, and signed Foxx to a recording contract. Laff of the Party, the first of many albums that Foxx recorded for Williams, became a cult favorite and helped establish him as a national star.[5]

Williams died in Los Angeles on August 21, 1991.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "California Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line"] Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com 2000 http://www.ancestry.com. Retrieved October 11, 2010 
  2. ^ Cashmore, Ernest (1997). The black culture industry. London and New York, New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415120829. 
  3. ^ a b Dawson, Jim. "The Penguins and 'Earth Angel'". The Doo-Wop Society of Southern California. http://electricearl.com/dws/penguins.html. Retrieved 10 October 2010. 
  4. ^ Edwards, Dave; Callahan, Mike; Eyries, Patrice (13 Jan 2010). "Dootone/Dooto Album Discography". http://www.bsnpubs.com/la/dootone/dootone.html. Retrieved 10 October 2010. 
  5. ^ Goodman, Mark (October 28, 1991) "Redd Foxx exits, laughing" People 36 (16) http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20111147,00.html. Retrieved October 11, 2010 

External links


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