Clarence Williams Clarence Williams was an American jazz pianist, composer, promoter, vocalist, theatrical producer, and publisher. Williams started a music publishing business in 1915, which by the 1920s was the leading African-American owned music publisher in the country. He was one of the primary pianists on scores of blues records recorded in New York during the 1920s. His songwriting partners included Spencer Williams, Andy Razaf and Louis Armstrong. He was also a major influence on singer and songwriter Thomas "Fats" Waller. He was inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.