Eva Taylor (January 22, 1895 — October 31, 1977) was a talented entertainer and Blues singer and was one of the first African-American singers to be heard on radio. She started out as child actor in a traveling revue that toured the world visiting Europe, Australia and New Zealand between 1900 and 1920. In 1920 she moved to New York City, where she became a popular singer in the night clubs of Harlem. The following year she married pianist, publisher and producer Clarence Williams.

The couple collaborated on many projects, including dozens of songs, a musical revue called “Bottomland”, and radio programs. They remained married until Williams’ death in 1965. In 1922 Taylor made her first record for the African-American owned Black Swan label, who billed her as “The Dixie Nightingale”. She would continue to record dozens of Blues, Jazz and popular sides for Okeh and Columbia throughout the 1920s and 1930s. She was the lead singer on several of Williams’ classic Blue Five recording dates, including the famous sessions that brought Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet together in 1924 and 1925. During the late 1920s Eva had her own radio show on NBC in New York. She retired from show business in the early 1940s, but continued to make occasional concert and night club appearances. The actor Clarence Williams III of Mod Squad fame is Eva and Clarence’s grandson.

Thanks to Bob Palmer for his help with this page.

Eva Taylor and Clarence Williams Band	Irene Gibbons and her Jazz Band
The Riffers	Eva Taylor’s Southernaires
Eva Taylor accompanied by Clarence Williams’ Blue Five
Eva Taylor accompanied by Clarence Williams’ Trio
Irene Gibbons accompanied by Clarence Williams’ Jazz Band

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home (Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams)	11-25-1922	New York, New York	Okeh 4740
Barefoot Blues (Clarence Williams)	5-30-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8073-A
Charleston Hound	7-1-1926	New York, New York	Okeh 40655
Cast Away (J. Brown / S. Easton / J. Stewart)	3-4-1925	New York, New York	Okeh 40330
Church Street Sobbing Blues (Anton Lada / Yellow Nuņez / Joe Cawley)	5-21-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8069
Do It Again Long Time Papa (W. Benton Overstreet)	5-30-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8073-B
Down Hearted Blues Piano Accompaniment by Clarence Williams (Lovie Austin / Alberta Hunter)	1-10-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8047-A
Farewell Blues (Elmer Schoebel / Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo)	5-18-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 3055
From Now On Blues (J.C. Johnson / Roland Irving)	5-18-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8069
Gulf Coast Blues (Clarence Williams)	5-18-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 3055
Happy Days and Lonely Nights		New York, New York	Okeh 8665
Have You Ever Felt That Way? (Castleton / Clarence Williams / Centralto)		New York, New York	Edison 52646-L
Hesitation Blues with Sara Martin (Billy Smythe / Scott Middleton)	7-7-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8082
I’m Going Away Just To Wear You Off My Mind Piano Accompaniment by Clarence Williams (Charlie Johnson / Warren Smith / Lloyd Smith)	2-12-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8051-B
If You Want The Rainbow (You Must Have Rain) (Rose / Dixon / Levant)		New York, New York	Okeh 8665
I’m Gonna See You When You Come (Jonathan Spikes / Benjamin Spikes)	5-29-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8068
Irresistible Blues Accompaniment by Clarence Williams Trio (George E. Jefferson)		New York, New York	Okeh 8129-B
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like Sister Kate (A.J. Piron)	11-25-1922	New York, New York	Okeh 4740
Jazzin Babies Blues Accompaniment by Clarence Williams Trio (Richard M. Jones)		New York, New York	Okeh 8129-A
Last Go Round Blues. (Cox)	2-7-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3834
May We Meet Again (Eva Taylor / Clarence Williams)	11-4-1927	New York, New York	Okeh 8518
Midnight Blues (A Wee Hour Chant) (Babe Thompson / Spencer Williams)		New York, New York	Victor 19124-A
My Different Kind Of Man (Jack Palmer / Clarence Williams)	7-31-1928	New York, New York	Okeh 41104
My Pillow And Me (Tim Brymn / Chris Smith / Clarence Williams)	1-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3834
My Pillow And Me Piano Accompaniment by Clarence Williams (Tim Brymn / Chris Smith / Clarence Williams)	2-17-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8051-A
New Moon (Clarence Williams)	9-1922	New York, New York	Black Swan 2103-B
Nobody But My Baby Is Getting My Love (Clarence Williams / Andy Razaf)		New York, New York	Okeh
Old Fashioned Love (From the musical comedy “Runnin’ Wild”) (James P. Johnson / Cecil Mack)		New York, New York	Okeh 8114-A
Open Your Heart		New York, New York	Okeh 8114-B
Original Charleston Strut Acc By Clarence Williams Blue Four	8-11-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8089
Papa De Da-da (Clarence Williams / Clarence Todd / Spencer Williams)	3-4-1925	New York, New York	Okeh 40330
She’s Gone To Join The Songbirds In Heaven (Porter Grainger)	11-4-1927	New York, New York	Okeh 8518
That Da-Da Strain (Dowell)	1-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3834
That Free And Easy Papa O’ Mine with Sara Martin	7-7-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8082
12th Street Rag (Euday L. Bowman)	2-17-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8049-B
West End Blues (Clarence Williams / King Oliver)		New York, New York	Edison 52646-R
What Makes Me Love You So (Fred Longshaw / Clarence Williams)		New York, New York	Victor V-38575-B
When You’re Tired Of Me (Just Let Me Know) Acc By Clarence Williams’ Harmonizers	5-16-1924	New York, New York	Okeh 8145
Yodeling Blues with Sara Martin (Clarence Williams)	5-4-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8067
You Don’t Understand (J. Johnson / Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams)		New York, New York	Victor V-38575-A
You’ll Never Have No Luck By Quittin’ Me (Harvey Porter / Jonathan Spikes / Benjamin Spikes)	5-29-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8068
You’re A Real Sweetheart (Friend / Caesar)	7-31-1928	New York, New York	Okeh 41104
You Can Have My Man (If He Come To See You Too) (Libby Williams Mehr)	2-12-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8050-A
You Missed A Good Woman When You Picked All Over Me Piano Accompaniment by Clarence Williams (Clarence Williams)	1-10-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 8047-B

Artist	Instrument
Gavin Bushell	Clarinet
Buddy Christian	Banjo
Johnny Dunn	Trumpet
Ernest Elliot	Clarinet
Charlie Irvis	TRombone
Sara Martin	Vocals
Tom Morris	Trumpet
Clarence Williams	Piano, Vocals