Williams, Ned (1927-1996) | University of Illinois Archives

Name: Williams, Ned (1927-1996)

Historical Note: Ned Williams (1927-1996) was born in Wolf Lake, Illinois on February 23, 1927. The son of Frank and Roxie Williams, he grew up near the Shawnee National Forest and later attended school in Preston, Illinois. After graduating high school, Williams worked in various careers including as a farmer, merchant seaman, truck driver, and sign painter. In 1962, Williams joined ASCAP as a song writer, collaborating with songwriters like R.D. Copp, Fannie Kirk, John B. Skipper, and Betty Syme. Williams published popular songs including a songbook entitled Songs of the Shawnee Hills (The score for which is presumed lost). He also wrote two operas including The Christ Story and The Drifter (scores also presumed lost). Williams's songs were self-published under his Supersonic Music and Cave Man Records labels, which were both based out of Wolf Lake, Illinois. Cave Man Records, an affiliate of Globe Recording Studios of Nashville, also recorded several country and western, western swing, rhythm and blues, and rockabilly artists in the early 1960s. Some of the recording artists that recorded with Cave Man include: Jimmy Evans, Rod Barton, Jeff Samson and the Western Band, JoAnn Auburn (aka Damita), and Sonny Marshall. Williams died in Dongola, Illinois on January 17, 1996.

Sources:

US Census Records and Grave Index

American Songpoem Archives, entry on Globe Recording: http://www.songpoemmusic.com/labels/globe.htm

Note Author: Nolan Vallier