Johnny Williams Sr.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I've been sampling some of the hit recordings of the Raymond Scott Quintet from the late 1930s.

 

I love seeing the name Johnny Williams at the bottom of these record labels!

 

Williams' dad must have been one real cool jazz cat.

 

This one shows off Williams Sr's drumming skills really well

 

This one of course I already knew from a thousand Looney Tunes cartoons.

Damn fine brushwork from Williams.

 

[karelm 3,259]

There are some scores (at least one) where the trio played together in a film.  John Williams Sr, drum kit, Jerry Williams, snares/tuned perc, and John Williams, piano.  Don was too young or still studying so wasn't involved and by the time he got in on the action, Sr was out.  They grew up surround by great jazz legends and they were all friends.  Don remembers those days fondly and lists off names of legends that were neighbors.  I believe it was late 1960's early 1970's.  Imagine how cool that must have been.  John Williams Sr. is also on screen I believe in Some Like it Hot.  I forget if that is in fact the film but it was a film where there was a background band playing during a song. 

[Miguel Andrade 1,697]

Thank you. I'll check those right away. I have a Raymond Scott LP, with Williams Sr, that is really a nice listen. Should take it out of the shelve for later today.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

3 minutes ago, karelm said:

John Williams Sr, drum kit, Jerry Williams, snares/perc, and John Williams, piano.  I believe it was late 1960's early 1970's

 

Heh, they left out Don!  I wasn't even aware of Jerry's existence.

 

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This one's a lot of fun too!

 

 

[karelm 3,259]

8 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Heh, they left out Don!  I wasn't even aware of Jerry's existence.

 

See my edit about Don.  Jerry came back out of retirement to play on SW TFA so the trio persists with our Johnny/Jerry/Don.  The two at the left are Jerry and Don at the session of TFA with Johnny taking the picture nah I'm sure he was at the podium or with the director talking shop.  Don said when he's at a JW session, it is very professional.  He is not "my brother", he is the boss so there is no clowning around.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

So both Don and Jerry followed in their dad's footsteps and became percussionists.  Very cool musical family.

[Thor 9,334]

John sr. appeared in several films (onscreen) with the RS Quintet as early as the 30s, as we've discussed in previous threads on this topic.

 

He managed to have a great and long and fruitful percussion career between the late 20s to the early 70s, when he basically retired. He died in '85. Our John would have never had his breakthrough in the industry if it weren't for his dad's connections in the industry.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

9 minutes ago, Thor said:

 as we've discussed in previous threads on this topic.

 

 

Well "we" didn't include "me"!  Since so much of this kind of detailed/obscure info about Williams is "hidden" across hundreds of threads in various messageboards over 20 years you can't assume everyone knows everything.  Newer people to the community will re-discover things you've known about for decades!

 

12 minutes ago, karelm said:

 

See my edit about Don.  Jerry came back out of retirement to play on SW TFA so the trio persists with our Johnny/Jerry/Don.  The two at the left are Jerry and Don at the session of TFA with Johnny taking the picture nah I'm sure he was at the podium or with the conductor.

 

Great picture!  Looks like Don is quite a bit younger than his brothers?

[Thor 9,334]

Don is born around 1950, perhaps a year or two before (just a couple of years older than my own dad), so yes, definitely an age gap. John is about 17-18 years older. Jerry is the second-oldest, born some 4-5 years after Williams. The fourth sibling, Joan, was born sometime during the war.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Heheh, I feel a kinship with Don!  We're both "oopsie!" 4th children.

[karelm 3,259]

18 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Heheh, I feel a kinship with Don!  We're both "oopsie!" 4th children.

 

Yes and you two are both fans of JW.  He might as well be your twin since you have so much in common.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I'll show up outside his house with a timpani.

[Will 2,393]

[karelm 3,259]

52 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I'll show up outside his house with a timpani.

 

I've been in his house.  Just saying.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

MIKE

 

DROP

[Marian Schedenig 11,316]

There's something fishy here. They all have hair!

[Disco Stu 15,517]

That's a sizable bald spot in that picture @karelm posted of Don two posts above!

[Marian Schedenig 11,316]

Emphasis on spot.