Important African-American entertainer broke down barriers for the century to come. The Jackie Robinson of Broadway, Bert Williams was the top selling black artist of his time and considered by many to be the greatest comedian of the Vaudeville era. W.C. Fields, who worked with Williams, called him "the funniest man I ever saw, and the saddest man I ever knew." Full page ALS is actually a written out "cable address" to his music publishers who he jokingly refers to a "Mark Stern." This was the team of Edward B. Marks and Joseph Stern, aka Joseph W. Stern & Co. The pair were among the first popular music publishers of the pop era. He requests they give the bearer of this wire, "Mr. Clarence Logan copies of all the songs published with Williams Walker," referring to the musical team of Bert Williams & George Walker. Logan is "gathering up up some of our stuff for N.C. Goodwin who sails Wednesday on the St. Louis. You might throw in a few classic's...Yours, Bert A. Williams." Beautiful ink signature and condition. Dates from the early 1900s, when Williams & Walker were at the peak of their musical powers. We have seen no other auction records for a Bert Williams ALS or anything significant signed by this groundbreaking entertainer. Comes certified by PSA.