Larry Williams

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Larry Williams
Birth name	Lawrence E. Williams
Born	10 May 1935, New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	7 January 1980
Genre(s)	Rock and roll Rhythm and blues
Years active	1950s - 1980
Label(s)	Specialty

See Larry Williams (trader) for the technical analyst and financial trader.

Larry Williams (Lawrence E. Williams or Larry E. Williams, 10 May 1935 – 7 January 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Having started his musical career as the chauffeur of Lloyd Price, Williams is best known for writing and recording some Rock 'n' Roll standards from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including 'Short Fat Fannie", "Bony Moronie" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" (see also: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll).

Several of his songs achieved later success as revivals by The Beatles ("Bad Boy", "Slow Down", and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy"); The Rolling Stones ("She Said Yeah"); and John Lennon ("Bony Moronie" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy").

Williams' first records were released by Specialty Records, as that label's biggest star, Little Richard, left Rock 'n' Roll in July 1957 to pursue the ministry. Groomed as Richard's successor, Williams' records had the same raw, piano-driven intensity.

Williams had been involved with underworld activity since his early teens, and had reputedly been a pimp before he ever recorded music. In the late 1950s his music career suffered a setback when he was arrested for dealing narcotics. However, Williams made a comeback in the mid-sixties with a band that included Johnny "Guitar" Watson, which paired him musically with Little Richard at the Okeh Club. This period garnered fewer hits but produced some of his best and most original work. There was also a brief dalliance with disco in the seventies.

Williams' wild lifestyle continued, and by the late 1970s violence took its toll on him and his friends.

In 1977, Little Richard Penniman narrowly escaped being shot by his long-time friend, Williams, over a drug debt. This, along with other factors, led to Penniman's return to born again Christianity and the ministry, but Williams would not escape.

In 1980, Williams was found dead from a gun-shot wound Los Angeles, California home.^{[citation needed]} The death was deemed suicide, though there was much speculation otherwise.^{[citation needed]} No suspects were ever arrested or charged.

A Southern Illinois blues singer by the name of Martin Albritton claims to be the "real" Larry Williams - alive and well. He has toured the country performing under the moniker of "Big" Larry Williams, and has gone so far as to claim that HE recorded the hits Bony Moronie and Dizzy Miss Lizzy. He did record one legitimate album in 1991 called "Street Party" with the Mellow Fellows band, previously headed by Big Twist.^{[citation needed]}