“Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)”

Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)
Dolly Kay, vocal
1924 (Columbia 226-D mx 140089)
Dolly Kay – Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)]

Here’s a song that has continued to be performed in recent decades – including by, of all things, the rock band Van Halen.

I don’t have a lot of information about Dolly Kay.  According to RedHotJazz.com she performed in vaudeville and caberets throughout the 1920s.  She recorded for Columbia between 1921 and 1928 with her later recordings being issued on Columbia’s low priced subsidiary labels (Harmony, Diva, Velvet Tone).