BERT WILLIAMS

Bert Williams was a black Bahamian actor and comedian from the 1890s to the 1920s. He was one of the most popular entertainers for all audiences of his time, and was the best-selling black recording artist before 1920. Williams was a leading figure in the development of African American entertainment and became the first black American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage. Some of his works include: Sons of Ham, Bandanna Land, and Ziegfeld Follies. Williams passed away in 1922 at the age of 47.