Esther Williams 

Lift Every Voice

Jazz Music

Esther Williams started her professional career in earnest as a vocalist when capturing the title of Miss Black DC. She toured Germany with the Miss Black America Tour and her many guest appearances included national and international venues and many guest appearances on national television and radio programs.

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Musical theater was a natural transition including performances at Ford’s Theater in “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.”, as well as “Tambourines to Glory” with the Black American Theater Club in D.C. and traveling productions of Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin”.

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A diverse performer with an extensive repertoire in Jazz, R&B, Pop, Spiritual and Gospel, Esther carved her niche and enjoyed working and recording with many artists, including Davey Yarborough, Sir Roland Hanna, Bobby Felder, Buck Hill and Keter Betts.

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Esther landed a recording contract with Friends and Company Records after a producer heard vocals she had recorded for others. She recorded two successful dance albums for Friends and another successful album for RCA records. “Beautiful Friendship”, was released in 2004 by Esther and saxophonist, Davey Yarborough to great reviews.

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Esther can be heard on the CD’s “Jazz at Peoples Church, a New Experience”, “Christmas Jazz at Peoples Church” and “Amazing Grace” with bandleader, Bobby Felder.

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Esther has opened for the Temptations, at the Savoy in New York City, and Peaches and Herb at Baltimore’s Harbor Place. Esther performs regularly at the “East Coast Jazz Festival” and has performed for “The Chesapeake Jazz Society”, “Live Music Now” and the “Mid-Atlantic Jazz Showcase” in New York with Davey Yarborough.

Esther has been a guest performer at the annual Kennedy Center Kwanzaa Celebration, and on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.

Esther sings with the Voices of Peoples Gospel choir at Peoples Church in DC, and is a regular performer in their Jazz Vesper series. Esther and her choir performed with gospel artist Larnelle James.

An engaging emcee, Esther produced and directed three successful musical variety shows, as well as emceed the Dumbarton Concert Series of Washington, DC.

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Together, in 1998, Esther and Davey Yarborough created the Washington Jazz Arts Institute, a non-profit organization with community programs, dedicated to educating and mentoring young and aspiring musicians.

www.wjai.org