Nina Cherry
Josie Williams (dates unknown)
About
Josie Williams was a trumpet player and bandleader, and is one of the first known women jazz instrumentalists and bandleaders on the Kansas City jazz scene. Williams led a 15 piece union band in the early 1920s which employed two female saxophonists: Mrs. Hoon and Mrs. Wells. Unfortunately, their full names remain unknown. It is also possible that Williams led a 13 piece “all girl” band, but this is not confirmed.

In 1924, Williams was elected treasurer for the Local No. 627, the Black musicians union, which operates today as the Historic Mutual Musicians Foundation.

Unfortunately, there are no mentions of Josie Williams in the papers beyond the mid-twenties. It is unknown what happened to Williams or when her union membership lapsed.