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Spencer Williams

1889 – 1965

American jazz and popular music composer, pianist, and singer

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About Spencer Williams

Lived 1889 – 1965 (aged 75). Spencer Williams was an American composer, pianist, jazz musician, singer and lyricist.

Spencer Williams (October 14, 1889 – July 14, 1965) was an American jazz and popular music composer, pianist, and singer. He is best known for his hit songs "Basin Street Blues", "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Royal Garden Blues", "I've Found a New Baby", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Tishomingo Blues", and many others.

Williams was performing in Chicago by 1907, and moved to New York City about 1916.

His hit songs include "Basin Street Blues", "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Royal Garden Blues", "Mahogany Hall Stomp", "I've Found a New Baby", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Shimmy-Sha-Wobble", "Boodle Am Shake", "Tishomingo Blues", "Fireworks", "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll", "Arkansas Blues", plus the dirty blues standard "Georgia Grind", "Paradise Blues", "When Lights Are Low", and "My Man o' War".

Williams returned to New York in 1957, before his death in Flushing, Queens, on July 14, 1965.

Williams was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Songwriters Hall of Fame

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Spencer Williams's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Spencer Williams?

American jazz and popular music composer, pianist, and singer (1889-1965)

When was Spencer Williams born?

Spencer Williams was born on 14 October 1889 in New Orleans.

When did Spencer Williams die?

Spencer Williams died on 14 July 1965 in Flushing.

What was Spencer Williams's occupation?

Spencer Williams was a composer, pianist, jazz musician, singer and lyricist.

What nationality was Spencer Williams?

Spencer Williams was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Spencer Williams

· Wikidata: Q1282480

· DBpedia: Spencer Williams

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Spencer Williams. https://biography.guide/spencer-williams/

MLA: "Spencer Williams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/spencer-williams/.

Chicago: "Spencer Williams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/spencer-williams/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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