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kae williams snr

Kae Williams Snr

b. Ulysses Kae Williams, 4th February 1921, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

d. 29th December 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Born in Phiadelphia in 1921, Kae Williams Snr was known as one of the earliest local deejays to play the blues.

He, originally, moved into radio around 1945 and worked for numerous area stations, including WSSJ, WDAS, WHAT and WCAM.

At the same time, he worked for the Philadelphia Tribune, from 1945 to 1948 as theatrical and night club critic.

There, it was his job to review as many shows as possible, and write a theatrical column.

Jocko Henderson recalls when he (Jocko) came to Philadelphia from Baltimore, there were three black DJ's on the radio, Ramone Bruce, Randy Dixon and Kae Williams himself.

In the mid-1950's, Kae reached what would be eventually the high point of his career.

He, and the group he was now managing, the Silhouettes, had a huge pop hit with 'Get a Job.'

The track sold several million copies in this country and abroad and topped the pop charts.

He, also, managing a group called the Sensations, which sold close to a million with the pop tune 'Let Me In.'

These records made everybody money but him and he felt a little bitter that he never got his due moneywise or publicity wise because Kae didn't own the publishing copyright.

At the time this type of thing happened to a lot of the black artists, promoters and producers in those early, pre-civil rights days of rock.

Kae Williams also inspired a lot of youngsters, black and white, to go into radio and music.

He always had time to help the new kid on the block.

One of Kae's sons, Ulysses Kae Jr., is a record producer, whose 'Catch Me I'm Falling,' by the group Pretty Poison, climbed the charts on it's release.

Kae Jnr was part of the soul group Breakwater.

Kae Williams Snr, also, worked for the Philadelphia Traffic Court for two years.

Williams enjoyed the time he spent with the Traffic Court, said the Rev. Darryl Williams, one of his sons, because 'It still kept him somewhat involved with people. He was a people person.'

Kae was a member of Mount Airy Baptist Church, and was a Mason.

Kae Williams Snr sadly passed away in December 1987.

He was 66 and lived in the East Mount Airy section of the city.

During his lifetime, Kae Williams received many awards. Here is a run down:

BMD – Award (Broadcast Music Inc.) (1957)
The B.M.D. Award was presented to Kae Williams by Dick Clark for the hit record (“Get A Job”) exceeding the sales of one million copies. This award is the B.M.D. Publishers Award.

Television
In 1964 Kae Williams was sponsored by Network T.V. (W.P.E.N.) in Philadelphia. This show lasted for a one-year run. In later years this show was revamped and became the Ed Hurst show.

N.A.T.R.A. – (National Association of Television and Radio Announcers)
Kae Williams was chairman of N.A.T.R.A. along with being a dedicated members.

Mary DEE Award
In 1978 Kae Williams was presented the first Mary DEE Award. Presented ti him by the Phialdelphia. Record promoters Association for outstanding community service and broadcasting.

Lifetime Acheivement Award
In May of 1989 Kae Williams Jr. was presented producer of the year award and by surprise was given the Life Time Acheievment Award for his father Kae Williams Sr. This award was presented by the Philadelphia Music Foundation.

Many thanks to Daryll Williams and his family for the information contained within this page.

If you have any further information regarding Kae Williams Snr, please e-mail Daryll from here. Thank you.

Real Player

Albums:

The New And Improved Silhouettes (Goodway Records 1968)

The Original And New Silhouettes -'58-'68 Get A Job (Goodway Records 1968)

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