TONY WILLIAMS was the original lead singer of The Platters, the most successful black rhythm-and-blues doo-wop group to emerge in the Fifties. The record, composed by Ram, was a perfect showcase for the emotional range and scope of Williams's voice, and remained at the top of the US hit parade for over two weeks, selling more than a million copies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. Tony Williams The recent, unexpected death of master drummer Anthony Williams came as a terrible shock to his family, friends, and music lovers everywhere. Anthony Tillmon “Tony” Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 12, 1945. Until Tony Williams death in 1997, Tony Williams was a much respected drummer of the earlier version of jazz, as well as the avant-garde jazz. Tony Williams was one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 60s and one of the pioneers of jazz fusion. Along with his band mates, Mr. Williams took group improvisation further than it had gone before, developing structural improvisations that made the form of a tune seem finally irrelevant to the music. Her Brother Garry Died 2 Years Prior to Her Death. Thirty years later, his early playing is still striking for its audacity; his capacity to listen, to hear within the group and augment the musical conversation, seemed unbounded.. Mr. Williams was born in Chicago and grew up in Boston. Crockett's Theme (Hammer)05. Mr. Williams, Wayne Shorter, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Carter were there to develop it. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Tony Williams, a drummer whose innovations made him one of the most influential jazz musicians of the last half-century, died on Sunday at the Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Calif. Mr. Williams continued on the fusion route until 1973, then took some time off. Shortly before Williams left the group they were billed as 'The Platters featuring Tony Williams'. But Ram placed promotional emphasis on Williams's voice as a ballad singer, insisting that the group were pop-chart material. On Thursday, February 20, Williams, after complaining of stomach pain, was admitted to the hospital for gall bladder surgery. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. It was when Buck Ram signed them to a management contract, and added a female singer - Zola Taylor, a member of The Teen Queens - that a distinct style began to emerge. Yesterday, Williams died aged 84, after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. In September the song was backed with 'Only You' and released in Britain, where it reached No 5 in the hit parade. Williams lived and taught in the San Francisco Bay Area until his death from a heart attack following routine gall bladder surgery. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Mr. Williams was regularly recording with other people as well, and the list of his collaborators on the Blue Note label sums up the experimental mainstream of the time. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Just 51, Williams (who could be a very loud drummer) seemed so youthful, healthy, and ageless even though he had been a major drummer for nearly 35 years. The Tony Williams Lifetime was founded in 1969 as a power trio with John McLaughlin on electric guitar, and Larry Young on organ. Died: August 14, 1992 in Manhattan, New York, USA (lung cancer) Birth Name: Samuel Anthony Williams The Platters sold over 50 million records and introduced a unique blend of orchestral arrangement with a distinct rhythm-and-blues harmonising, which almost immediately earned them acceptance amongst the United States' white audience. The Platters had four No 1 hits and 16 gold records, including 'My Prayer', 'Harbour Lights', 'Twilight Time' and 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes', which remained at the top of the British charts for five weeks. Tony Williams, singer, born Elizabeth New Jersey 15 April 1928, died New York City 14 August 1992. Its debut album was Emergency!, a double album released on Polydor/PolyGram Records in 1969. In the mid-1980's, Mr. Williams made a series of highly regarded albums for the reactivated Blue Note label. In the 1980s he performed in a group featuring his wife Helen. Tony Williams ' death in 1997 of a heart attack after routine gall bladder surgery was a major shock to the jazz world. As part of the Davis quintet's rhythm section, with Herbie Hancock on piano and Ron Carter on bass, Mr. Williams radically changed the way a band worked. That year, Mr. Williams, then 17, was invited to join a newly formed group led by Davis, who was embarking on a new sound. 01. Samuel E. "Tony" Williams (April 5, 1928 – August 14, 1992) was the lead singer of the Platters from 1953 to 1960. ... Carole Bishop, Shirley Knight and Sammy Williams, pose with their awards at the 30th Annual Tony Awards in New York. An early association with the saxophonist Sam Rivers, with whom he played in 1959 and 1960, led to work with other leading jazz figures. Tony Williams, a drummer whose innovations made him one of the most influential jazz musicians of the last half-century, died on Sunday at the Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Calif. He began recording for Columbia, with musicians from the improvising pianist Cecil Taylor to the rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose. See the article in its original context from. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Pioneer radio DJ Tony Williams, who once had his own reggae show on BBC Radio London between 1977-1987 and was also the creator of the British Reggae Industry Awards which highlighted the talent of many UK reggae artists, has passed away in London on Monday, April 30 after he had been ailing for some time. He began playing drums at the age of 8, encouraged by his father, the saxophonist Tillmon Williams. He received most recognition for his fusion project; The Tony Williams Lifetime band with John McLaughlin. Williams had formed the group in 1953, with his fellow members David Lynch, Alex Hodge and Herbert Reed. There was a sense, in his early music, that he was completely taken by velocity and forward motion. Mr. Williams's own two recordings for Blue Note include the masterful ''Spring,'' from 1965, which featured Mr. He was 51. In 1963 he recorded with Mr. McLean and began an association with the Blue Note label that produced some of the most admired works of the era. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Shorter and Mr. Rivers on saxophone. Ram was a booking agent at the time of the introduction, and was reputedly so impressed by the tonal purity of Williams's high tenor, that he decided to create the 'Platters sound', around his voice. He never did take that thing out of his mouth. Tony Williams, Actor: Marked for Death. It was unusual to find a female vocalist in a doo-wop group, and Ram sought to widen the range and vocal blend with this addition. Miami Vice Theme (Hammer)03. His playing lost its opaque, cool quality and his music took on weight and density. He also was part of The Miles Davis Quintet in the 60's and did extensive touring with Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P band as well. Before this several cover versions of both of these songs had entered the British charts (there was a delay in Mercury's obtaining a UK outlet). He was married to Collen Williams. TONY WILLIAMS was the original lead singer of … Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Marshall’s older brother, Garry, preceded … His most recent album, ''Wilderness,'' merged fusion and classical music. Shortly after Ram took over the management, Hodge was forced to leave the group after an incident with the police. In 1969 he put together a group, Lifetime, one of the foundations of the new music called fusion. Williams was working as a parking-lot attendant in Los Angeles at the time. Mr. Williams died on August 14, 1992 in New York. Williams was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and died in New York of emphysema. A legendary jazz/Fusion drummer. The two principals of The Platters, Buck Ram and Tony Williams, died in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The band was possibly named for Williams' debut album as a bandleader, Life Time, released on Blue Note in 1965. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Discography Early in his career he was a master of the ride cymbal. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? It was largely … Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Tony [Williams] used to have that trouble with Wayne [Shorter]. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. "Then I gave him some progressions. The recordings they made together, including ''E.S.P.,'' ''Miles Smiles,'' ''Sorcerer'' and ''Live at the Plugged Nickel,'' are some of the most important in jazz. Logan Williams, a young actor who appeared on CW’s “The Flash,” died on April 2 at 16 years old, and his mother has revealed that his death was caused by a … Tony Anthony Williams Jr., a lifelong resident of Palatka, Florida also resided in Jacksonville for a brief time with family where he attended Duval and Putnam School District. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. The Platters continued with a replacement lead vocalist, Sonny Turner. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. He was the lead singer in the group The Platters. The Platters signed a contract with Mercury records in November 1955, and the label's initial commercial reaction to them was that they were simply another rhythm-and-blues group. Tony Williams met his wife Helen, a model, in Las Vegas in 1957. During the 1980s, several former members died, including David Lynch (1981), Nate Nelson (1984) and Paul Robi (1989). Tony Williams, the accidental UK catalyst for the fusion of Jamiacan Dub and New York dance music during the early-‘80s, sadly died on April 30th. The cause was a heart attack, said his publicist, Kirk Tanksley. By this point he had also absorbed rock and funk into his mainstream jazz vocabulary. Jazz and rock elements contrasted, even Star quality: Andy Williams duets with Kermit the Frog on The Muppet Show in 1980. By the end of his association with Davis, in mid-1969, Mr. Williams's style had changed. Original line-up. Williams was the brother of the blues singer Linda Hayes, and it was she who first introduced him to the ex-lawyer turned songwriter and arranger Buck Ram in 1954. Shirley Knight, a Tony and Emmy award-winning actress, has died. In his hands tempos were pliable, and he was comfortable halfing and doubling the pulse, plying the emotional implications of elastic tempos. Tony Williams, 51, Drummer Renowned as a Jazz Innovator. The other drummer on that album was Ginger Baker, who had played in Cream with Jack Bruce, later the bass player with the Tony Williams Lifetime. When the original Platters recording finally hit the charts the New Musical Express described Williams's voice as 'unearthly'. Williams-Dunning was driving a 2007 Chevy Tahoe while towing a boat Saturday night in Henry County, Tennessee, when it crashed, according to Wesley Moster, a spokesman … By the time he was 15, he was playing regularly around Boston, working with gritty organ groups and experimental musicians. Other articles where Tony Williams is discussed: jazz-rock: … and associates such as drummer Tony Williams, guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and electric keyboardists Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Larry Young, and Chick Corea broke through to distinctive fusion musics. Scroll down for video. Sonny Barnes was hired to take Williams place, but lasted less then a … Posted by Roger Ritthaler at 7:22 AM. Tony Williams, singer, born Elizabeth New Jersey 15 April 1928, died New York City 14 August 1992. It included Larry Young on organ and John McLaughlin on guitar, and it recorded its first album that year for Polydor Records, ''Emergency!'' He entered the Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California, on Thursday, February 20, for minor gall bladder surgery and was in the process of recovering when he suffered a fatal heart attack. They performed worldwide, specialising in night-club appearances, but neither Williams alone, nor the group, ever recaptured the special magic of the original combination. He also continued studying, working on harmony and composition with teachers from the Juilliard School of Music and the University of California at Berkeley. The Platters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. In 1960, Tony Williams left the group and one by one, other members resigned. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. And in his swing, Mr. Williams was utterly committed. He also had a passion and loved God. She replaced Zola Taylor as the female vocalist, and they were married in 1963, three years after Williams left the group to embark on a solo career with Frank Sinatra's Reprise label. He liked a clean, spare sound evoking the slight sizzle of fat in a frying pan, and often moved abruptly between light and cluttered textures. Several changes of personnel followed, and at one time it was claimed that there were over 20 groups claiming to be the original Platters. Darkness (Hammer)04. In the late 1970's Mr. Williams returned to mainstream jazz as part of the Great Jazz Trio, with Hank Jones and Mr. Carter. Shorter, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Carter; as late as 1995, when the group recorded the Grammy-winning ''Tribute To Miles Davis,'' the shadow of their old boss was still in place. Tony Williams was born on December 12, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA as Anthony Williams. Gargantua (Williams) 02. He died on February 24, 1997 in Daly City, California, USA. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, of Pacifica, Calif., and his mother, Alyse Janez. He included the young musicians Wallace Roney, Donald Harrison and Mulgrew Miller along with Bobby Hutcherson and Mr. Carter. Their first single, 'Only You (And You Alone)', hit the mainstream US chart at number 5, much to the amazement of Mercury's A and R department. He had undergone minor gall … Mr. Williams was a child prodigy, and from his earliest recordings with the saxophonist Jackie McLean through his work with the Miles Davis band of the mid-1960's on to his own jazz and rock fusion groups, he retained his own sound. He had an older sister, Linda Hayes. Drummer and jazz-fusion pioneer Tony Williams died Sunday in Daly City, California of a heart attack, it was announced today. He had been listening to rock and Jimi Hendrix, and along with Davis, he began thinking about moving toward a fusion of popular music and jazz. But, just as Diana Ross was The Supremes, so Tony Williams was The Platters. The open style that he created while with the Miles Davis Quintet in the mid- to late '60s remains … Tony Williams’ family moved to Boston, Massachusetts when he was a toddler. He probably died with it in his mouth! Tony Williams, a former parking-lot attendant who crooned the 1950's hit songs "Only You" and "The Great Pretender" as the lead singer of the Platters, died on Friday at his Manhattan apartment. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. When Tony Williams died on February 23, he left behind not only a rich legacy of extraordinary drumming, but also the promise of incredible things to come. Tony Williams left the group in August,1960 to pursue a solo career signing with Reprise Records, but never approached his success with the Platters. Zola Taylor went in 1962, soon joining another ex-member to perform the hits of the Platters. More known as Tony Williams by drummers around the world. Tony Williams can be regarded a generation-gap-filler in the jazz world. That list included Freddie Hubbard, Andrew Hill, Eric Dolphy, Grachan Moncur and Mr. McLean. Tony loved to fish, spend time with his son, wife, and family, as well laughing while making others laugh. The vocalist Paul Robi replaced him, and this new line-up was the final combination which made The Platters the most successful black group of the Fifties. His father, Tillman Williams, was the In February 1956 Mercury released their follow-up single, the ballad 'The Great Pretender'. He also formed the group V.S.O.P., with Mr. Untold Passion (Hammer)06. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1980 Vinyl release of Play Or Die on Discogs. Tony has received scant acknowledgement for this, … Tony Williams died 17 years ago Tony Williams was born on April 5, 1928 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. 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