Explore Black History

April 1949

A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Herbert “Hot Sauce” Williams. Williams are Hawkins depicted in profile, facing each other and smiling, with Williams standing on the left and Hawkins on the right. Williams’ proper left hand rests on Hawkins’ proper right shoulder and the two men are both holding opposite sides of a long-playing record between them with their other hands. Behind the record, also between the men, is a silver tone microphone. At the top of the microphone is a rounded microphone flag with the radio station call sign, [WSRS], visible. Hawkins is wearing a medium-toned suit, white collared shirt, a dark patterned bow tie, and has a white pocket square in his left breast pocket. Williams is wearing a tall, white, paper chef hat, medium-toned trousers, and a white short sleeve, button down shirt. The men are standing in front of a DJ console with two turntables. The acoustic wall panel behind Hawkins and Williams is white and has four bands of small perforations along the top half. The photograph has a white frame and a portrait orientation. There is a yellow tape mark at the center of the top edge. The back of this photograph is white and plain with a photographer’s stamp and inscriptions. The black ink stamp at the center reads [“Another Photo” / BY CLEMENT PERRY / GLENVILLE 8927]. There are two inscriptions in the top left corner, one written in black ink that reads [April 1949], and the other in blue ink, that reads [“Hot Sauce” Williams] and a red [+] in the bottom left corner. There is also a tide mark in the top right corner.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of W. Allen Taylor, son of "Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins," The First Black Disc Jockey of Cleveland, Ohio

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2018.91.2.27

gelatin silver prints
portraits

Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

H x W (Sheet): 10 × 8 1/8 in. (25.4 × 20.6 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Herbert “Hot Sauce” Williams

nmaahc_2018.91.2.27

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF DISC JOCKEY BILL “HAWK” HAWKINS WITH HERBERT “HOT SAUCE” WILLIAMS

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s

Perry, Clement • Williams, Herbert • WSRS • Hawkins, Bill

United States • North and Central America • Ohio • Cleveland • Cuyahoga County

Photography • Cooking • Dinners and dining • Radio

City • Cleveland • County • Cuyahoga County • State • Ohio • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • Photographs

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible