1. Lawrence Eugene Williams was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, and pianist from New Orleans.
23 Facts About Larry Williams
1. 2.
Larry Williams was a longtime friend of Little Richard, with whom his life intertwined personally and professionally from their meeting in 1955 to Williams' death in 1980.
3.
Larry Williams spent some time with relatives in Chicago, Illinois, before relocating to Oakland, California in 1945.
4.
Larry Williams returned to New Orleans in 1954 and began working for his cousin, singer Lloyd Price, as a valet.
5.
In 1955, Larry Williams met and developed a friendship with Little Richard, who was recording at the time in New Orleans.
6.
Larry Williams was introduced to Robert Blackwell, Specialty's house producer, and was signed to the label.
7.
Larry Williams quickly was groomed by Blackwell to try to replicate his success.
8.
Larry Williams recorded a number of songs in 1958 and 1959, including "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy", which charted at No 69 on Billboard's Pop chart in 1958.
9.
Larry Williams recorded for Chess Records but no hits were produced.
10.
Larry Williams then served a three-year jail term, setting back his career considerably.
11.
Larry Williams made a comeback in the mid-1960s with a funky soul band that included Johnny "Guitar" Watson, which paired him musically with Little Richard who had been lured back into secular music.
12.
Larry Williams produced two of Little Richard's albums for Okeh Records in 1966 and 1967, which returned Little Richard to the Billboard album chart for the first time in 10 years and spawned the hit single "Poor Dog".
13.
Larry Williams acted as the music director for Little Richard's live performances at the Okeh Club.
14.
Larry Williams recorded and released material of his own and with Watson, with some moderate chart success.
15.
Larry Williams began acting in the 1960s, appearing on film in Just for the Hell of It, The Klansman, and Drum.
16.
Larry Williams' lifestyle involved recreational drug use and abuse which resulted in trouble with the law.
17.
In 1977, Larry Williams threatened Little Richard with a gun over a drug debt.
18.
Larry Williams was married to Ina Marie Larry Williams, although they were eventually estranged.
19.
On January 7,1980, Larry Williams' body was found by his mother at his home in Los Angeles, California from a gunshot wound to the head.
20.
Larry Williams's death was deemed suicide, though there was speculation that he was murdered because of his involvement in drugs and allegedly prostitution.
21.
Larry Williams had recorded and performed as a drummer for Bobby "Blue" Bland in the 1960s.
22.
Several of Larry Williams' songs achieved success as revivals, by the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and John Lennon.
23.
Larry Williams was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2014.