Devonia "Lady Dee" Williams

Devonia "Lady Dee" Williams (July 18, 1924—July 1, 1967) was an American rock and rhythm & blues pianist and singer. She was a long-time member of Johnny Otis's band and also worked in the house band of Otis' nightclub.

Williams also performed under aliases "Darby Hicks" and "Lady Dee".

Between 1948 and 1956, she was involved in 54 recording sessions.

Devonia Williams was born Devonia Eloysie Williams in Los Angeles, California, on July 18, 1924.

Growing up, she played piano in both gospel and boogie-woogie.

Williams began her professional music career in the mid-1940s with Johnny Otisand His Orchestra and was heard on several of Otis' recordings through the 1950s alongside drummer Leard Bell, saxophonist Preston Love, and guitarist Pete Lewis.

In 1948, when Otis, Tila Ali, and Bardu Ali launched their rhythm and blues nightclub "The Barrelhouse" in Los Angeles, Otis hired Williams for the house band.

In 1947, Williams, under the stage name "Darby Hicks", recorded "Got No Lead In My Pencil" and "Let's Go Again" with bassist Charles Mingus, guitarist Buddy Harper, saxophonist Buddy Collette, and vocals by Carolyn Richards.

In December 1949, Williams' piano was heard on Otis' recordings of "Double Crossing Blues" and "Back Alley Blues" alongside Pete Lewis (guitar), Mario Delagarde (bass), Leard Bell (drums), and Milt Buckner (piano), with guest vocals by Esther "Little Esther" Phillips and the R&B group The Robins.

In January 1950, Williams recorded Ralph Bass' composition of "Turkey Hop" for Otis' band, accompanied by the usual members and John Anderson (trumpet); Floyd Turnham (alto saxophone); Big Jay McNeely (tenor saxophone); Bobby McNeely (baritone saxophone); and vocals by Mel Walker and The Robins.

Around that time, Williams, with Otis' Quintette, were guests on The Robins' recordings of "I'm Living O.K." and "There's Rain in My Eyes", with Bobby Nunn(bass vocals), Gene Phillips (Hawaiian guitar), Esther Phillips (vocals), Ty Terrell (tenor vocals), Billy Richards (baritone vocals), Roy Richards (baritone vocals), and Lorenzo Holden (tenor saxophone).

Her 1949 R&B release of "Bongo Blues" (as Dee Williams & The California Playboys) reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B jukebox chart. In the early 1950s, she recorded with Marilyn Scott or Mary DeLoatch and Jimmy Witherspoon.

In 1954, Williams played piano on Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton' recordings of "I Smell a Rat" and "I've Searched the Whole World Over" with Otis' band, accompanied by Don Johnson (trumpet), George Washington (trombone), James Von Streeter (tenor saxophone), Fred Ford (baritone saxophone), and Albert Winston (bass).

In 2015, Williams' "Dee's Boogie" (recorded as Dee Williams With The California Playboys) was featured on JSP Records' 2015 compilation album Boogie Woogie Gals: Boogie Songstresses & Piano Stylists. Other female artists on the CD include:

• Hadda Brooks ("Stompin' The Boogie")
• Gladys Bentley & Quintette ("Boogie'n My Woogie")
• Madonna Martin ("Madonna's Boogie")
• Nellie Lutcher With The Irving Ashby Trio ("Lake Charles Boogie")
• Bettye Jean Washington With The Maxwell Davis Orchestra ("Elevator Boogie")
• Mary Lou Williams & Her Trio ("Hesitation Boogie")
• Paula Watson ("Paula's Nightmare")
• Eunice Davis With The Freddie Mitchell Orchestra ("Rock Little Daddy")

Over the years, Williams also recorded with Ben Webster, Big Mama Thornton, Earle Warren Orchestra, Dorothy Ellis, Joe August, Melba Liston, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Etta James featuring Maxwell Davis Orchestra.

Williams died in Los Angeles, California, on July 1, 1967, at age 42.

Tom Lord: The Jazz Discography