Born on November 1936 in Bessemer, Alabama, Zephire, Andre Williams was raised in a housing project by his mother, who died when he was six years old. When he was around 16 he escaped rural poverty for Detroit
Motor City was booming and Williams was determined to become a vocalist. But he wasn’t gifted with a voice as good as other soul singers. So he invented a sing-talk style mixed with humour. And he succeeded. His unique proto rap style was on of the starting points for rap music as we know it today. His first success was Bacon Fat. It became biggest-selling record.
Source: The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Wikipedia
