Ira "Buddy" Williams (born December 17, 1952, in New York City) is an American jazz drummer. He has played with Grover Washington, Cedar Walton, David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, The Manhattan Transfer, Nat Adderley, Roberta Flack, McCoy Tyner and others. Willams is a past member of the Saturday Night Live Band, and has done drums and percussion for theatrical works including Hello, Dolly!, , The Color Purple, among others.
In 2024, Williams received the New York City Musicians Collective Honors award.
Buddy Willams started playing professionally at eight years old. He attended High School of Music and Art during which time he played with the group "Natural Essence". Williams graduated from Manhattan School of Music.
In Leonard FeatherâÂÂs 1976 review of Nat AdderleyâÂÂsàAdderley Quintet debut performance in Los Angeles, he described "an explosive drummer named Buddy Williams."
During the early 1980s, he toured with Corea and Return to Forever, then worked with Bobby Lyle, Eliane Elias, David Benoit, Michel Petrucciani and McCoy Tyner, playing on his "Looking Out" album.
In 1981, Williams co-wrote "Rollin' On" and "Ballad for D." with Roberta Flack for the Bustin' Loose soundtrack.
With Nat Adderley
With Andy Bey
With Carla Bley
With Doug Carn
With George Freeman
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Dave Grusin
With Roberta Flack
With Jaroslav Jakubovic
With Howard Johnson and Gravity
With Hugh Masekela
With Lee Ritenour
With David Sanborn
With Sonny Sharrock & Linda Sharrock
With Valerie Simpson
With Lonnie Liston Smith
With Bob Stewart
With McCoy Tyner
With Luther Vandross
With Cedar Walton