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                            Wake up Philadelphia!         

                            "Get out of that bed and make that bread"

Click the above link to hear 

Click the link below to hear 

That is just a  brief  description of what the man was all about. Kae was also a military man. He entered the United States Army prior to Pearl Harbor - March, 1941, to be exact - and was honorably discharged in April, 1942, at Indiantown Gap, Pa. Before receiving his discharge, however, Williams was graduated as a member of the first All Negro Field Artillery Battalion in the United States Army.

Kae was among the first Black radio personalities to make it big in Philadelphia. He came along before Georgie Woods, Jocko Henderson , Louise Williams and others. He showed his wares at WHAT, WDAS, and WCAM and a few others.

Before Radio -

It is a matter of record that Kae worked for the Philadelphia Tribune from 1945 to 1948 as theatrical and night club critic. It was his job to review as many shows as possible and write a theatrical column. Known for his superlative gift of gab there was still more to this man.

"KID SWINGSTER" as he was first known, was one of the best song and dance men in the business. He held three championship trophies for dancing - tap and ballroom. He appeared on the stage with such princes of music as Count Basie, Erskine Hawkins and Lionel Hampton. Kae studied music and dramatics at Al Berkman's School of Dramatic Arts, Philadelphia.  

A Career Change -

Known as one of the earliest spinners of the blues, Kae Willliams (as he was known in radio) broke into radio around at WHAT-AM.  After around six - seven years he was hired by WDAS, where he was promoted to program coordinator. Douglas (Jocko) Henderson who worked closely with Kae at WDAS said...

"Kae was a beautiful individual whose first love was radio. Jocko later dedicated his alumni show  on WDAS to Kae after his death on December 23rd, 1987. Jocko also recalled "that when he came to Philadelphia from Baltimore in 1952, there were three black DJs - Ramone Bruce, Randy Dixon and Kae Williams." 

" I kind of fell in love with Kae," said Jocko. "We were very close friends...He was the blues king of the eastern seaboard and ahead of his time."

Georgie Woods who also worked with Kae at WDAS said that it was Kae who in 1954 introduced him to famed blues singer B.B. King. It was Kae Williams who took the heat for the blues in Philadelphia when none of the other DJ's would play or promote it.

If there is a musical genre that Philadelphia has which Kae was solely responsible for promoting it is the Blues. In fact he was dubbed "Daddy of the Blues." When blues was kinda a step-child on the music scene in Philly back in the late 50's, Kae specialized in playing nothing but the blues. Only Kae Williams was giving shows featuring the likes of B.B. King, Little Richard, Ike Turner's Revue and Bobby Blue Bland..

In 1958, Williams organized an independent record producing company for the purpose of discovering and developing local talent. 

You've heard the songs now hear the story. 

In 1954 a group originally calling themselves the Cavaliers formed. They signed with Atlantic records subsidiary Atco in 1955. Their first single "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," was released and did well, but the following releases did poorly and caused the group to to part. In 1961 after a few member changes and new management (Kae Williams) a new record deal was signed with Chess affiliate Argo. The song "Music, Music, Music," which was the group's first song to hit the charts was was quickly released. "Let Me In" was next, and this great tune fared even better than "Music, Music, Music," reaching the second spot on the R & B charts in 1962. And behind these two chart makers was producer Kae Williams. The group, The Sensations featuring Yvonne Baker.

In 1957, a group known as the Gospel Tornados who recently transitioned from a gospel group was performing in a local night club when seen by Kae who liked them and expressed an interest in managing them. He recorded the group on his own Junior Records label, given to Herald/Ember for national distribution  and the monster hit "Get a Job" was born. The group. You guessed right. The Silhouettes. (pictured at right with and Kae and Jocko).

It was their legendary harmony and extraordinary talent that led this group of of young black kids from 49th and Woodland in Southwest Philly in 1954 to an audition with WHAT-AM DJ Kae Williams. It was 1957 before their first winner, "Long Lonely Nights," was picked up by Chess Records of Chicago and rode to the top of the national charts. "Teardrops" followed, and then their third hit, "Try The Impossible," was recorded for United Artists. And who are they? You guessed again. Lee Andrews and The Hearts.

Other nationally known artist developed and discovered by Kae are, Solomon Burke, Screaming  Jay Hawkins, Don Gardner, Doc Bagby, Mose Davis, Bobby Bennett and others." Kae also produced weekly variety shows at the Liberty and Uptown Theatres in North Philadelphia.