Ted Williams first heard jazz on the radio as a youngster in the 1930s in Wichita, Kansas. The sounds of Earl Hines, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway broadcast from Chicago's legendary Grand Terrace Ballroom inspired him. In the late 1940s, Williams merged his love of music and photography and moved to Chicago where he captured unguarded photographic studies of some of the era's greatest jazz musicians.
Williams’s work appeared in major international publications, including Time, Newsweek, Look, Playboy and Ebony. His coverage of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival landed him a spectacular 21-page layout in DownBeat magazine. Williams was active on the jazz scene from the late 1940s until the late 1970s. He photographed many of the greats in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
Williams’s historic archive runs to more than 100,000 images and comprises perhaps the most intimate and complete collection of jazz’s greatest musicians at work, rest and play.
Find original Ted Williams photography on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by International Fine Arts Consortium – IFAC Arts)
Ted Williams - Sarah Vaughan Chicago, IL, Photography 1948, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver A portrait of American jazz singer and Grammy Award winner, Sarah Vaughan in her dressing room at the Chicago theatre, IL, 1948. Available size...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams-Dr. Martin Luther King, IL Rally, Soldier Field 1964, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Dr. Martin Luther King at Chicago Rally at Soldier Field Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Crowds at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Carmen McRae Chicago Hotel Room, Photography 1956, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver American jazz singer Carmen McRae smoking and applying make-up in her Chicago Hotel Room, 1956. Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24"...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Dr. Martin Luther King at Soldier Field in IL 1964, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Dr. Martin Luther King at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Dr. Martin Luther King at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Count Basie'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Count Basie 1950's (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Count Basie at the Trian...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Gene Lees playing chess with Dizzy Gillespie, 1960, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Canadian music critic, biographer, lyricist and former journalist Gene Lees playing chess with American jazz trumpeter and bandleader, Dizzy Gil...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Sarah Vaughan'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Sarah Vaughan 1948 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authentic...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Louis Armstrong, Photography 1962, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Louis Armstrong At the University of Chicago Theater in the Round, IL Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24" Edition of 25 30”x40" Edi...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Dizzy Gillespie DownBeat Magazine, 1960, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Dizzy Gillespie. Outtake from a cover shoot for DownBeat magazine, June 23, 1960 Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24" Edition of 25 ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams-Dr. Martin Luther King at Soldier Field Chicago 1964, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Dr. Martin Luther King at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, US, June 21, 1964 Available sizes: 20”x16" Ed...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field, IL, 1964, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field, Chicago Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Crowds at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago, ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams-Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter and Johnny Griffin 1960, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter and Johnny Griffin Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Left to Right: Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter and Johnny Griffin on the corner of Michigan ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Eleanora Fagan aka Billie Holiday, 1958, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver American jazz musician and singer-songwriter Eleanora Fagan, professionally known as Billie Holiday, performing on stage. Available sizes: 16”...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'John Coltrane playing the saxophone'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams John Coltrane playing the saxophone 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Ca...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Louis Armstrong'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Louis Armstrong 1962 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Louis Armstrong on-sta...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Nichelle Nichols dancing at Count Basie's party'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter & Johnny Griffin for Downbeat Magazine 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter & Johnny Griffin'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter & Johnny Griffin for Downbeat Magazine 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Cannonball Adderley at the Blue Note'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams "Cannonball" Adderley at the Blue Note 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Count Basie'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Count Basie 1950's (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 40 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Count Basie at the Trian...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Billie Holliday'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Billie Holiday 1948 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Billie Holiday on-stage...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Odetta Holmes, Photography 1961, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as “The Voice of the Civil Rights Move...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Man reading Billboard Magazine, Chicago, 1958, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Portrait of a man reading Billboard Magazine at a newstand, 1950s, Chicago, USA. Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24" Edition of 25 ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Two Members of The Almighty Vice Lord Nation 1958, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Two Members of The Almighty Vice Lord Nation Chicago Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Two young members of The Almighty Vice Lord Nation photographed on the streets of C...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams-Sam Jones Playing Double Bass Smoking Cigarette 1958, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Sam Jones Playing the Double Bass Smoking a Cigarette Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Close-up of jazz double bassist, cellist and composer, Sam Jones playing the doubl...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Miles Davis Dressing Room, Photography 1960, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver American jazz musician, bandleader and composer Miles Davis playing the trumpet in a dressing room before a performance. Available sizes: 20”x...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Chicago, 1961, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver The Dave Brubeck Quartet At Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, Chicago, April 1961 Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24" Edition of 2...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Dinah Washington, Civic Opera House, Chicago, 1956, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Title: Dinah Washington, Civic Opera House, Chicago, IL Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver American singer and pianist, Dinah Washington on stage at Civic Opera House, Chicago, I...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Benny Golson DownBeat Magazine, Photography 1960, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Available sizes: 16”x20" Edition of 25 20”x24" Edition of 25 30”x30" Edition of 25 48”x48” Edition of 25 This photograph will be printed once ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams - Charles Mingus Rhode Island, Photography 1959, Printed After
By Ted Williams
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate-stamped, gelatin-print silver Charles Mingus On-stage at the Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, 1959 Available sizes: 20”x16" Edition of 25 24”x20" Edition of 25 40”x30" ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Count Basie'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Count Basie 1950's (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Count Basie at the Trian...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Charlie Byrd playing the guitar'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Charlie Byrd playing the guitar 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Captio...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Dizzy Gillespie for Downbeat Magazine'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams "Cannonball" Adderley at the Blue Note 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Billie Holliday'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Billie Holiday 1948 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 40 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Billie Holiday on-stage...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Duke Ellington'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Duke Ellington 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Duke Ellington on stage...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Dr. Martin Luther King'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Dr. Martin Luther King, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity Dr. Martin Luther King makes a sp...
Silver Gelatin
Martin Luther King Motorcade
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Martin Luther King Motorcade, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity ...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Dr. Martin Luther King'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Dr. Martin Luther King, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity Dr. Martin Luther King makes a speech at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, US, June 21, 1964. The same day of the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ted Williams (1925-2009) first heard jazz on the radio as a youngster in the 1930s in Wichita, Kansas. The sounds of Earl Hines, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway...
Silver Gelatin
Martin Luther King Motorcade
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Martin Luther King Motorcade, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity Dr. Martin Luther King waves to the crowds as he drives in a motorcade on the way to make a speech at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, US, June 21, 1964. Ted Williams (1925-2009) first heard jazz on the radio as a youngster in the 1930s in Wichita, Kansas. The sounds of Earl Hines, Duke Ellington and Cab...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Louis Armstrong'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Louis Armstrong 1962 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authenticity Louis Armstrong on-sta...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Duke Ellington'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Duke Ellington 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 40 x 60 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with certificate of authent...
Silver Gelatin
Ted Williams 'Dr. Martin Luther King'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Dr. Martin Luther King, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity Dr. Martin Luther King makes a sp...
Silver Gelatin
Martin Luther King Motorcade
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Martin Luther King Motorcade, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authent...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Ted Williams 'Dr. Martin Luther King, Chicago'
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Dr. Martin Luther King, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity Dr. Martin Luther King makes a sp...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Dr. Martin Luther King
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Dr. Martin Luther King, 1964 Silver gelatin print 16 x 20 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authenticity ...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Martin Luther King Motorcade
By Ted Williams
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Martin Luther King Motorcade, 1964 Silver gelatin print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition with certificate of authent...
Silver Gelatin