Bert Williams

b. 12 November 1874, New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas, d. 5 March 1922. After moving to the USA, Williams worked in vaudeville with moderate success. In 1898 he teamed up with George W. Walker, and the two song and dance men became a success in New York City in the show In Dahomey, and also toured overseas. When Walker died in 1907, Williams continued on his own. In 1913 he met impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, who saw his act at the Lafayette in Harlem and was so impressed that he brought Williams into his Ziegfeld Follies. Williams appeared in every Follies until 1920, featuring s...