Buddy Williams (jazz drummer)

Ira "Buddy" Williams (born December 17, 1952, in New York City)^[1] is an American jazz drummer. He has played with Grover Washington, Cedar Walton, David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, The Manhattan Transfer and others.^[2][3][4][5] Willams is a past member of the Saturday Night Live Band,^[6] and has done drums and percussion for theatrical works including Hello, Dolly!, Motown: The Musical, The Color Purple, among others.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Buddy Williams
Born	Ira "Buddy" Williams
Occupations	Session musician jazz drummer
Years active	1976-present
Musical career
Origin	New York City
Instruments	Drums

Not to be confused with the Australian country musician Buddy Williams (country musician).

In 2024, Williams received the New York City Musicians Collective Honors award.^[12]

Discography

As sideman

With Nat Adderley

• Don't Look Back (SteepleChase, 1976)
• Hummin' (Little David, 1976)

With Andy Bey

• Experience and Judgment (Atlantic, 1974)

With Carla Bley

• Fleur Carnivore (Watt, 1989)

With Doug Carn

• Revelation (Black Jazz, 1973)

With George Freeman

• Man & Woman (Groove Merchant, 1974)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• Closer to the Source (Atlantic, 1984)

With Dave Grusin

• Dave Grusin & The GRP All-Stars - Live in Japan (Arista Records, 1981)

With Jaroslav Jakubovic

• Checkin' In (Columbia, 1978)

With Howard Johnson and Gravity

• Testimony (Tuscarora, 2017)

With Hugh Masekela

• Main Event Live (A&M, 1978)

With Lee Ritenour

• Rio (1979)

With David Sanborn

• Straight to the Heart (Warner Bros. Records, 1984)

With Sonny Sharrock & Linda Sharrock

• Paradise (ATCO Records, 1975)

With Valerie Simpson

• Valerie Simpson (Tamla, 1972)

With Lonnie Liston Smith

• Dreams of Tomorrow (Doctor Jazz, 1983)

With Bob Stewart

• Goin' Home (JMT, 1989)

With McCoy Tyner

• Looking Out (Columbia, 1982)

With Luther Vandross

• Never Too Much (Epic, 1981)

With Cedar Walton

• Animation (Columbia, 1978)
• Soundscapes (Columbia, 1980)