During 1928 Williams took a short break from leading the Royal Flush Orchestra to front Dave Peyton's band in Chicago at the Regal Theatre under the name Fess Williams and His Joy Boys.
In 1928, Williams took a brief hiatus from leading the Royal Flush Orchestra to take on a new musical venture in Chicago at the Regal Theatre, performing under the name Fess Williams and His Joy Boys with Dave Peyton's band.