Williams was a part of many top bands in the ’20s and ’30s. However, his best work began in 1940 when he joined Sidney Bechet’s small bands. Williams was a small boy when he moved to Washington, D.C. He was sent to Delaware’s industrial school after the death of his parents. There he joined the band. After two years, he returned to Washington and studied trombone under Juan Tizol and James Miller, Jr. He performed locally, including in the Lincoln Theater’s pit band. In New Jersey, he played with Claude Hopkins just before he moved to New York. He stayed there only for a short time. After a brief stint in Washington, he joined Horace Henderson’s band. He continued to play with the band for three more years, while occasionally working with Hopkins, Cliff Jackson and Fletcher Henderson, his brother. Fletcher recruited Williams to his band in 1932. He stayed with the band for around a year, before moving on to Chick’s orchestra. After Fletcher’s death in 1939, Williams continued to play with the Webb ensemble until Ella Fitzgerald took over the leadership. In 1940, he left. He spent the next year with the Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, and Sidney Bechet bands. In June 1940, he recorded his first recording as a clarinetist/soprano-saxophonist. Williams was not used to working in small groups. His solos were fine but it took Williams some time to master the ensemble work. Bechet was pleased with Williams’ fresh approach to early jazz music and used him for sessions and gigs the following years. Williams was a leader in the early ’40s, working for Lucky Millinder and Mezz Mezzrow. He briefly replaced Lawrence Brown in 1943 by spending time with Duke Ellington. He worked for several years with Don Redman and Oran “Hot Lips”, Page, Rex Stewart, Claude Hopkins and Roy Eldridge. Bechet and Williams performed at the Town Hall concert to celebrate Blue Note’s record label on December 15, 1945. He had health problems that forced him to stop performing in the early 1950s. In the late ’50s he began to gig again, but his dental issues in the ’60s hampered his musical activity. Allmusic
