Willie Bryant
William Stevens Bryant was an American jazz bandleader, vocalist, and disc
jockey, known as the “Mayor of Harlem.” Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began his
career as a child tap dancer and later took trumpet lessons. In 1926, he started
performing professionally in the Whitman Sisters Show, and went on to work in
various vaudeville productions over the following years. In 1934, he formed his
first big band, which at times featured musicians such as Teddy Wilson and Benny
Carter. After the group disbanded, Bryant moved into acting and disc jockeying,
recording R&B in 1945 and leadi...
