Jazz pianist and composer Spencer Williams was born in New Orleans on October 14, 1889, studying at the local St. Charles University before relocating to Chicago in 1907. A decade later he was in New York City, teaming with Fats Waller to pen a handful of songs including 1918's "Squeeze Me"; the roll call of Williams' subsequent hits is most... [+] Read More

This interesting character played a vital role in Chicago's hot music scene during the mid-1920s. The entire drama of his exciting professional life, his subsequent mental derangement, incarceration, and death took place in, or not far from, Chicago. Firstly, he is said to have studied piano with Augustus Zinky Cohn. His earliest appearance on... [+] Read More

He is one of the few artists who could claim to have a big name even before he made it big. Howard Biggs is primarily known for his involvement with doo wop and other styles of vocal harmony groups in the early days of rock & roll. Like nearly all the musicians involved in the doo wop genre, Biggs was also active in many other styles of music.... [+] Read More