The next year he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to have one of his lungs collapsed for treatment. Fortunately, the treatment left his singing voice undamaged, but Joe would continue to suffer from respiratory ailments throughout his life.
At the age of 16 Joe sang for tips and worked as a janitor in an all-white nightclub in Chicago called Kitty Davis's. Around this time he dropped out of high school and changed his surname to Williams. He began singing in clubs around Chicago with bands led by Erskine Tate and Johnny Long. It was a busy time for the young singer, who found himself featured with three different bands.
Professional Singing Debut
In 1937 the 18-year-old Williams joined a band led by clarinetist Jimmie Noone and toured the South. From 1938 to 1940, Williams and Jimmie Noone's Orchestra were heard nationally over the CBS radio network. He would later credit his early radio experience with lending clarity to his pronunciation, a key element of his trademark style. When not working for Noone's band, Williams toured the Midwest with the Les Hite band.
In 1938, Williams heard blues singer Big Joe Turner for the first time and was immediately drawn to the blues.
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