b. February 28, 1897 in Richmond, VA, d. October 6, 1973 in Greenup, KY. Williams claimed to have played 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' within 15 minutes of picking up a guitar in 1908, and his awesome abilities when aged over 70 with an arthritic wrist lend his claim credibility. By 1922, he had settled in Greenup to work as a trackliner after a period of wandering, and played thereafter for the local white audience. His repertoire included the 'blues, rags and ballads' of his posthumous album, songster material such as 'Chicken' and 'Railroad Bill', white fiddle pieces transposed to guitar, and pop songs such as 'Darktown Strutters' Ball' and 'Up A Lazy River'. There was even a ragtime version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. Discovered in 1970, he had a brief, and professedly reluctant, career playing concerts and television shows.
