He was born Joseph Goreed in Cordele, Georgia and moved to Chicago as a child. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He grew on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by jazz, blues, and gospel music. In the 1930s, as a teenager, he was a member of "The Jubilee Boys" and performed in Chicago churches.
He worked as a singer and bouncer in Chicago in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943, he was hired by the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He toured with Hampton for several years but never achieved breakthrough success.
He rose to national prominence as the singer for Count Basie's Orchestra in 1954. He remained with Basie for several years. "Everyday I have the Blues" is his biggest hit.
After leaving the Basie band, Williams continued to have a successful career working with his own jazz combo. He and Basie remained on good terms and he would regularly appear with the band.
Bill Cosby cast Williams as his father-in-law "Grandpa Al" Hanks in a recurring role on the 1980s sit-com The Cosby Show.
Williams enjoyed a successful career and worked regularly until his death. He died at age 80, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joe Williams shares a birthday with Frank Sinatra who was also born Dec. 12, three years before Williams
Out of Nowhere
Joe Williams Lyrics
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You took my heart and found it free
Wonderful dreams, wonderful schemes from nowhere
Made every hour sweet as a flower for me
If you should go back to your nowhere
Leaving me with a memory
I'll always wait for your return out of nowhere
The lyrics to Joe Williams's song Out of Nowhere speak of a sudden and unexpected romance that has taken hold of the singer's heart. The object of his affection came to him from nowhere and liberated his heart, allowing him to experience wonders beyond his imagination. The dreams and schemes that filled his mind were so wondrous that every hour felt as sweet as a flower. The singer's love is so blinding that he is willing to wait for the object of his affection to return, even if they disappear back into nowhere, leaving him with nothing but the memory of their brief but intense connection.
The song is an ode to the power of love and the profound impact that it can have on a person's life. It speaks to the transformative power of love, how it can turn something mundane and ordinary into something magical and extraordinary. It also reflects the desperation and longing that often comes with love, the feeling of being lost without the object of one's affection. Overall, Joe Williams's Out of Nowhere is a powerful testament to the beauty and complexity of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You came to me from out of nowhere
You appeared unexpectedly in my life and caught me off guard.
You took my heart and found it free
You made me feel liberated and carefree by accepting my love.
Wonderful dreams, wonderful schemes from nowhere
You brought excitement and joy into my life with unexpected dreams and plans.
Made every hour sweet as a flower for me
You made every moment of my life beautiful and pleasant.
If you should go back to your nowhere
If you decide to leave and disappear once again.
Leaving me with a memory
Leaving me with nothing but a memory of a love that once was.
I'll always wait for your return out of nowhere
I will always hope for your unexpected return, even though it seems unlikely.
Hoping you'll bring your love to me
I am wishing for you to still have feelings for me and return with your love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Heyman, Johnny Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind