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Catalog Data

Photograph by:
Felton W. Williams Jr., American, 1934 - 2012  Search this
Subject of:
Double U Studio, American, 1967 - 1981  Search this
Medium:
dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions:
H x W (Sheet): 3 3/8 × 3 13/16 in. (8.5 × 9.7 cm)
Type:
dye diffusion transfer prints
Date:
1977
Caption:
Felton W. Williams Jr. was born on January 3, 1934, in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1943 his family moved to Detroit, where they attended the same House of God Church as fellow steel guitar pioneer Maurice “Ted” Beard. Williams began playing lap steel in 1947, and by 1952 had played for many large church assemblies n Detroit, Toledo, Ohio, Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. In 1956 Williams began working as electrician for Ford Motor Company, a job he would have until retirement in 1994. He used his skills as an electrician to build amplifiers and steel guitars. Williams also taught steel guitar to youth from the church, and had a recording studio in his basement, where he recorded many gospel records for local singers. He was respected in the Sacred Steel community as an innovator, recording artist, studio owner, producer, instructor and inventor.
Description:
A color photograph of equipment in Felton W. Williams' recording studio, Double U Studio. The image depicts several pieces of recording equipment sitting on a brown desk and in front of a large window. Handwritten in blue ink on the lower margin of the print is [1977].
Topic:
African American  Search this
Gospel (Music)  Search this
Instrumentalists (Musicians)  Search this
Musicians  Search this
Pentecostal  Search this
Technology  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Gift of Felton W. Williams, Jr.
Object number:
2011.64.2
Restrictions & Rights:
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Photographs and Still Images
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd553b08164-e6e0-4155-82e4-750a6a505c20
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2011.64.2