American jazz drummer from Detroit, MI. Played with such artists as Ruth Brown, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, Big Joe Turner, Mary Lou Williams, The Swingle Singers, Eric Dolphy, Diahann Carroll, Jaki Byard, and The Major Holly-Tommy Flanagan trio. He also worked as house drummer at New York’s famous Apollo Theatre. Father of sax player Earl Williams, Jr. Son of Paul Williams (The Hucklebuck').

For the NOLA rhythm & blues performer, see Earl Williams