For its inaugural Camp Bacon event, Zingerman’s is going straight to the source.

Not to the pig, although there will be plenty of cured pork on hand during the four-day bacon celebration. No, rather to the source of the greatest song ever recorded about bacon, Detroit’s own Andre Williams.

“When we were putting together this event that’s all about bacon, it only made sense to have Mr. Williams be part of the festivities,” said Pete Sickman-Garner, Zingerman’s marketing manager.

Williams, a giant on the Detroit R&B scene in the 1950s, is perhaps most famous for his song “Bacon Fat,” which reached number nine on the R&B charts in 1957. Williams had several other regional hits for the legendary Fortune label before moving on to the larger Motown and Chess labels.

But despite having written other hits, including “Shake a Tail Feather,” for artists like Ike and Tina Turner and Ray Charles, Williams remains best known for that crazy song about bacon back in '57.

So much so, in fact, that Zingerman’s co-founder Ari Weinzweig included a section about Williams in his book, “Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon,” which was published last year.

Meanwhile, the 73-year-old Williams, now based in Chicago, is on a career resurgence. After completing rehab for cocaine addiction, he released a new record, “That’s All I Need,” this year on Bloodshot Records. Also this year, he released his debut novel, “Sweets,” a slim volume of pulp fiction that closely mirrors elements of William’s own harrowing experiences. Listen to Andre Williams "That's All I Need" (MP3).

In March, he performed a sold-out homecoming show at the Park Bar in Detroit that reportedly found him in fine, dashing form.

So, when Weinzweig hatched a notion to devote a festival to all things bacon, Williams was a natural choice.

“Ari had this crazy idea of having summer camp that was all about bacon,” Sickman-Garner said. “We were wondering if we could pull it off.

“Ari has a way of making things happen.”

And so, on June 18, on the patio at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Williams and his band will perform before a roomful of classic R&B fans and bacon lovers alike.

But how will Williams, a self-described pimp, whose tamer songs have titles like “Jail Bait,” play with the foodie crowd at Zingerman’s?

Sickman-Garner isn’t worried.

“He can be raunchy and he’s not shy,” Sickman-Garner said. “But Zingerman’s is a pretty earthy place, too.

It’s going to be a little louder in the patio room than most diners are used to, but it’s going to be fine.”

And don’t worry, “Bacon Fat” will be on the setlist.

“I asked his manager if I needed to get it in the contract that he’d perform that song,” Sickman-Garner said. “”But I was assured that he’ll always play it.”

Camp Bacon wouldn’t be complete without it.

Will Stewart is a free-lance writer for AnnArbor.com.

Andre Williams performing “Bacon Fat” live earlier this year (excerpt):