Eva Taylor was a talented entertainer and Blues singer and was one of the first African-American singers to be heard on radio. She started out as child actor in a traveling revue that toured the world visiting Europe, Australia and New Zealand between 1900 and 1920. In 1920 she moved to New York City, where she became a popular singer in the night clubs of Harlem. The following year she married pianist, publisher and producer Clarence Williams. The couple collaborated on many projects, including dozens of songs, a musical revue called "Bottomland", and radio programs. They remained married until Williams' death in 1965. In 1922 Taylor made her first record for the African-American owned Black Swan label, who billed her as "The Dixie Nightingale". She would continue to record dozens of Blues, Jazz and popular sides for Okeh and Columbia thoughout the 1920s and 1930s. She was the lead singer on several of Williams' classic Blue Five recording dates, including the famous sessions that brought Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet together in 1924 and 1925. During the late 1920s Eva had her own radio show on NBC in New York. She retired from show business in the early 1940s, but continued to make occasional concert and night club appearances. The actor Clarence Williams III of Mod Squad fame is Eva and Clarence's grandson. |
Eva Taylor and Clarence Williams Band | Irene Gibbons and her Jazz Band |
The Riffers | Eva Taylor's Southernaires |
Eva Taylor accompanied by Clarence Williams' Blue Five | |
Irene Gibbons accompanied by Clarence Williams' Jazz Band |
Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams) |
11-25-1922 | New York, New York | Okeh 4740 |
Barefoot Blues
(Clarence Williams) |
5-30-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8073-A |
Cast Away
(J. Brown / S. Easton / J. Stewart) |
3-4-1925 | New York, New York | Okeh 40330 |
Church Street Sobbing Blues
(Anton Lada / Yellow Nuņez / Joe Cawley) |
5-21-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8069 |
Do It Again Long Time Papa
(W. Benton Overstreet) |
5-30-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8073-B |
Down Hearted Blues
(Lovie Austin / Alberta Hunter) |
1-10-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8047-A |
Farewell Blues
(Elmer Schoebel / Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo) |
5-18-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 3055 |
From Now On Blues
(J.C. Johnson / Roland Irving) |
5-18-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8069 |
Gulf Coast Blues
(Clarence Williams) |
5-18-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 3055 |
Happy Days and Lonely Nights | New York, New York | Okeh 8665 |
|
Have You Ever Felt That Way?
(Castleton / Clarence Williams / Centralto) |
New York, New York | Edison 52646-L |
|
Hesitation Blues with Sara Martin (Billy Smythe / Scott Middleton) |
7-7-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8082 |
I'm Going Away Just To Wear You Off My Mind
(Charlie Johnson / Warren Smith / Lloyd Smith) |
2-12-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8050-B |
If You Want The Rainbow (You Must Have Rain) (Rose / Dixon / Levant) |
New York, New York | Okeh 8665 |
|
I'm Gonna See You When You Come
(Jonathan Spikes / Benjamin Spikes) |
5-29-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8068 |
Irresistible Blues
(George E. Jefferson) |
New York, New York | Okeh 8129 |
|
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like Sister Kate
(A.J. Piron) |
11-25-1922 | New York, New York | Okeh 4740 |
Jazzin Babies Blues | New York, New York | Okeh 8129 |
|
Last Go Round Blues.
(Cox) |
2-7-1923 | New York, New York | Columbia A3834 |
May We Meet Again
(Eva Taylor / Clarence Williams) |
11-4-1927 | New York, New York | Okeh 8518 |
Midnight Blues (A Wee Hour Chant) (Babe Thompson / Spencer Williams) |
New York, New York | Victor 19124-A | |
My Different Kind Of Man
(Jack Palmer / Clarence Williams) |
7-31-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 41104 |
My Pillow And Me
(Tim Brymn / Chris Smith / Clarence Williams) |
1-1923 | New York, New York | Columbia A3834 |
My Pillow And Me
(Tim Brymn / Chris Smith / Clarence Williams) |
2-17-1923 | New York, New York | Oke 8051 |
New Moon
(Clarence Williams) |
9-1922 | New York, New York | Black Swan 2103-B |
Nobody But My Baby Is Getting My Love
(Clarence Williams / Andy Razaf) |
New York, New York | Okeh | |
Old Fashioned Love (From the musical comedy "Runnin' Wild") (James P. Johnson / Cecil Mack) |
New York, New York | Okeh 8114-A |
|
Open Your Heart | New York, New York | Okeh 8114-B |
|
Papa De Da-da
(Clarence Williams / Clarence Todd / Spencer Williams) |
3-4-1925 | New York, New York | Okeh 40330 |
She's Gone To Join The Songbirds In Heaven
(Porter Grainger) |
11-4-1927 | New York, New York | Okeh 8518 |
That Da-Da Strain
(Dowell) |
1-1923 | New York, New York | Columbia A3834 |
That Free And Easy Papa O' Mine with Sara Martin |
7-7-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8082 |
12th Street Rag
(Euday L. Bowman) |
2-17-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8051 |
West End Blues
(Clarence Williams / King Oliver) |
New York, New York | Edison 52646-R |
|
What Makes Me Love You So
(Fred Longshaw / Clarence Williams) |
New York, New York | Victor V-38575-B |
|
Yodeling Blues with Sara Martin (Clarence Williams) |
5-4-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8067 |
You Don't Understand
(J. Johnson / Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams) |
New York, New York | Victor V-38575-A |
|
You'll Never Have No Luck By Quittin' Me
(Harvey Porter / Jonathan Spikes / Benjamin Spikes) |
5-29-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8068 |
You're A Real Sweetheart
(Friend / Caesar) |
7-31-1928 | New York, New York | Okeh 41104 |
You Can Have My Man (If He Come To See You Too) (Libby Williams Mehr) |
2-12-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8050-A |
You Missed A Good Woman When You Picked All Over Me | 1-10-1923 | New York, New York | Okeh 8047 |
Artist | Instrument |
Gavin Bushell | Clarinet |
Buddy Christian | Banjo |
Johnny Dunn | Trumpet |
Ernest Elliot | Clarinet |
Charlie Irvis | TRombone |
Sara Martin | Vocals |
Tom Morris | Trumpet |
Clarence Williams | Piano, Vocals |