Williams and Ree
Bruce Williams and Terry Ree, alternately billed as both "Williams and Ree" and "The Indian and the White Guy", were a pair of American comedians. From the late 1960s until 2024, they performed throughout the United States.
Williams and Ree met in 1968 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota,[1] as members of a band who filled time between songs with comedy sketches.[2] Their humor soon became more popular than their music. Much of the duo's banter plays upon the stereotypes held of Native Americans. Ree was a member of the Crow Creek Sioux.[1]
Williams and Ree performed with Garth Brooks, The Oak Ridge Boys and Tim McGraw,[3] and made television appearances on The Nashville Network.[4] Their comedy albums include The Best of Williams and Ree, Taking Reservations and Way Up Norsk. They also made two independent films in South Dakota, Williams and Ree: The Movie and Totem Ree-Call.[5]
Williams and Ree performed throughout the United States and Canada at Native American gaming venues and fairs. They were regulars at the Norsk Høstfest in Minot, ND.[6] They were the regular hosts of the Craven Country Jamboree in Craven, Saskatchewan,[7] and Country Thunder festivals in Wisconsin and Arizona. In 2019, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations chief Bobby Cameron unsuccessfully called for them to be banned from Country Thunder events due to "racist material" at their Craven performance.[7]
They were inducted into the South Dakota Rock Hall of Fame in 2018.[3]
In the spring of 2024, Williams and Ree announced their retirement from touring.[8]
Ree died on December 21, 2024, at the age of 75.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Vlessing, Etan (December 23, 2024). "Terry Ree, "The Indian" in Williams and Ree Comedy Team, Dies at 75". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Where are they now?". Black Hills Pioneer. June 27, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Hanson, Tom. "Reflecting on Williams and Ree". KELOLAND.
- ^ Turvey, Dana (July 25, 2008). "Comedy from the unlikely duo of Williams & Ree". Tahoe Daily Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Williams and Ree to perform in Mitchell Friday". Mitchell Republic. November 2, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Skurzewski, Joe (December 23, 2024). "Terry Ree, Norsk Høstfest mainstay from 'Williams and Ree,' remembered". KFYR-TV. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Indigenous comedian, Cameron disagree over whether Country Thunder joke was racist". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Osloond, Danielle (May 1, 2024). "Williams and Ree Cancel Remaining 2024 Tour Dates Including November Show at Deadwood Mountain Grand". Deadwood Mountain Grand. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "'The Indian' from legendary South Dakota duo Williams and Ree dies". The Dakota Scout. December 22, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Official site
- Terry Ree at IMDb
- Bruce Williams at IMDb
- Williams and Ree discography at Discogs
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