Ken Williams

Kenneth Williams (January 13, 1939 – June 17, 2022) was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger and singer, best known for the 1972 hit song "Everybody Plays the Fool” which he co-wrote with J. R. Bailey and Rudy Clark, and was recorded by American R&B group The Main Ingredient and also by Aaron Neville. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and at No. 25 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Williams was the CEO and founder of the publishing company A-Dish-A-Tunes Music LLC.

Early life Williams was born on January 13, 1939, in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He studied music at Peck High School in his hometown. After graduating, he joined the Air Force and, while stationed in Great Falls, Montana, he formed a group called The Chuck A Lucks.

In 1961, Warner Bros released a debut single from the Chuck-A-Lucks with tracks "Pick Up And Deliver" and "Long John". A few months later, "Cotton Pickin' Love" and "I’m Hospitalized Over You" followed.

In 1968, Williams formed a family owned music publishing company called A Dish-A-Tunes LLC. Over six decades,

Williams died at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York on June 17, 2022, at the age of 83.

Awards In 2004, Williams' publishing company, A Dish-A-Tunes received a Grammy Award for the song “You Don’t Know My Name”. The song was recorded by Alicia Keys and produced by Kanye West.