Early life
Midge Williams was born Virginia Louise Williams in May 1915, but she was known by her nickname "Midge" to distinguish her from her mother, also named Virginia Louise. She grew up in the African American agricultural community of Allensworth, California, in Tulare County. Williams’ grandfather, Joshua Singleton, was the son of the famous black separatist leader Benjamin "Pap" Singleton. Joshua Singleton moved his family to Allensworth when the colony was founded in 1909, and the Singletons became prominent members of the Allensworth community. Virginia Louise Williams, Midge's mother, helped run Singleton's grocery store and helped obtain a Girl Scout charter for the Allensworth settlement.
Allensworth had problems with arsenic in the groundwater supply, and when promised new sources of water did not appear, the economic hopes of the community began to falter. Many residents had to leave, including the Williams family. Virginia Louise Williams moved to Oakland in 1925, while Midge and her brothers, John, Lewis, Charles, and Robert, remained in Allensworth. In 1929, Midge and her brothers joined her newly remarried mother and her uncle, Henry Singleton, in Berkeley, California.
Midge Williams came from a talented family. Her grandfather Joshua had been a music teacher, her mother Virginia Louise was a dance teacher, and her uncle Henry played the violin. She also had a half-brother named Lester Williams who worked as a Jazz musician. With this type of background, Midge Williams and three of her brothers formed a singing and dancing act called the Williams Quartette. The group performed regularly in churches and theaters in and around the San Francisco – Oakland area.
Adult career
It was during performances of the Williams Quartette in the early 1930s that Roger Seguire saw the act and signed on to be the group’s manager. Seguire was a pianist with experience in Asia, and he immediately booked the group for a tour of China and Japan. In 1933, the Williams Quartette went to Shanghai, China, to perform at the Canidrome. From Shanghai the group went to Japan, performing in clubs and dance halls. It was in Japan in 1934 that Midge Williams made the first recordings of her career, singing Jazz songs in both English and Japanese. Midge had a tremendous impact upon Japanese Jazz fans and became the model for Japanese singers to follow.
In August 1934, the Williams Quartette returned to California, but shortly thereafter Midge's brother Charles died from a gunshot accident. With the Quartette finished, Midge went off on her own. She took up residence in Berkeley, and in the summer of 1935 became a regular performer on the radio program Blue Monday Jamboree. In early 1936 she met Al Jolson and sang on his Shell Chateau radio program. By the summer of 1936, Midge Williams moved to New York City and performed several times on Rudy Vallée's radio show. Her singing voice won her a position doing a series of twice-weekly, 15 minute "sustainer programs" of songs for the NBC Blue Network. In early 1937 she did a once per week series of songs for the NBC Red Network.
During her time in New York, Midge Williams appeared on a number of important radio programs, including: the RCA Magic Key series, the Studebaker Champions Show, and Ben Bernie’s Show. It was in the summer of 1936 that Midge Williams began her American recording career on various labels, and by 1937 she was recording songs with her band, Midge Williams and Her Jazz Jesters. Members of the Jazz Jesters included such notable Jazz musicians as Raymond Scott, Frankie Newton, Buster Bailey, and Charlie Shavers. While living in New York, Midge Williams performed at prominent Harlem venues, including the Apollo Theater and the Savoy Ballroom. She also appeared with several other distinguished Jazz artists, including Lil Armstrong, Bunny Berigan, Harry James, John Kirby, Glenn Miller, Fats Waller, Ben Webster, and Teddy Wilson.
In 1938, Midge Williams joined the Louis Armstrong orchestra and toured with him across the country. Although no recordings of Midge Williams with Louis Armstrong were ever made, while she was with the Jazz legend they played in venues across the United States.
Final Years
It is not known exactly what happened, but in 1941 Midge Williams left the Louis Armstrong orchestra and entered into a Detroit hospital. Whether for health or other reasons, her career largely ended at that point. She performed in public only one more time, appearing on the Jack Webb radio show in 1946. From there she slipped into obscurity. In early 1952, Midge Williams died from tuberculosis. She was just a few months shy of her 37th birthday and destitute. Williams was cremated and her ashes interred in San Francisco.
Dinah
Midge Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.
News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
The song "Dinah" by Midge Williams is a romantic love song that expresses the singer's love and admiration for Dinah. The song begins with the singer proudly stating that Carolina has given them Dinah, and they consider themselves the luckiest person in the region. The singer talks about the news spreading about their wedding and how the church bells are ringing. The chorus of the song is an ode to Dinah, where the singer asks if there is anyone finer in the state of Carolina and invites anyone who knows such a person to introduce them to the singer. The second verse expresses the singer's love for Dinah's Dixie eyes and how they love gazing into her eyes.
However, despite their love, the singer is also shown to be fearful of losing Dinah. Every night, they shake with fright, thinking about the possibility of Dinah changing her mind about them. But the singer declares that they would go to great lengths to be with Dinah, even if she were to wander off to China. They would hop on an ocean liner just to be with her.
Overall, the song "Dinah" is a sweet love song that expresses the singer's deep love and admiration for Dinah while also highlighting the fear of losing her.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina
The state where Midge Williams met and fell in love with Dinah.
Gave me Dinah;
Dinah is the name of Midge Williams' lover, who holds great significance in her life.
I'm the proudest one
Midge Williams feels proud to have Dinah as her partner and is not shy about expressing her feelings for her.
Beneath the Dixie sun.
Midge Williams' love for Dinah runs deep and is evident to everyone beneath the sunny skies of Dixie.
News is spreadin'
Word is getting around that Midge and Dinah are getting married.
'Bout our weddin';
People are talking about the upcoming marriage between Midge Williams and Dinah.
I hear church bells ringin',
Midge Williams can already hear the bells ringing in anticipation of her wedding with Dinah.
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
Midge Williams' heart is filled with joy and sings a song of love and devotion for Dinah.
Dinah,
Midge Williams addresses and expresses her love for her partner, Dinah.
Is there anyone finer
Midge Williams believes Dinah is the finest person, not just in Carolina, but possibly in the world.
In the state of Carolina?
Midge Williams proudly claims that Dinah is the best in the state they both call home.
If there is and you know her,
Midge Williams challenges anyone who thinks they know someone finer than Dinah to introduce her to them.
Show her!
Midge Williams is confident that no one can match the beauty, grace, and love of Dinah and dares anyone to try.
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
Dinah has blazing, fiery eyes that show her passion, energy, and love for life.
How I love to sit and gaze in
Midge Williams loves looking into Dinah's eyes and feeling the warmth and intensity of her love.
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Dinah's full name is Dinah Lee, which holds a special place in Midge Williams' heart.
Yet, every night,
Despite her love for Dinah, Midge Williams still harbors fears and anxieties about their relationship.
My, how I shake with fright,
Midge Williams experiences intense fear and nervousness about the possibility of Dinah leaving her.
Because my Dinah might,
Midge Williams worries that Dinah might change her mind about their relationship and leave her.
Change her mind about me!
Midge Williams fears losing Dinah's love and affection, and worries that she might no longer feel the same way about her.
But if Dinah,
Despite her fear, Midge Williams affirms her love for Dinah and claims she would do anything for her.
Ever wandered to China,
Midge Williams expresses that even if Dinah went to the other side of the world, she would follow her across any distance.
I would hop an ocean liner,
Midge Williams says she would take any mode of transportation available to her to be with Dinah, even if it meant crossing oceans.
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Midge Williams reiterates her love for Dinah and affirms that nothing can keep them apart, even if they face great distance or adversity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Akst, Samuel M. Lewis, Joseph Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind