A native of Washington, DC, Ben Williams grew up in an artistic family of musicians, visual artists and rappers. Showing great promise on both bass and piano at an early age, Ben became a star student at the Duke Ellington High School of the Arts, where he performed in the jazz band, gospel choir and orchestra, as well as in extracurricular gigs.

After graduating with honors, Ben received scholarships and distinctions from the Fish Middleton Scholarship Competition, International Society of Bassist, Steans Music Institute, Duke Ellington Jazz Society, International Association of Jazz Educators and other notable organizations. In 2009, Ben was the winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, a prestigious and important award that has launched many successful music careers.

Williams received a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Michigan State University in 2007 and a Master of Music degree from the Julliard School in 2009. Throughout the course of his brilliant career, Ben has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Paquito D’Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, George Duke, Eric Reed, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller and many others. He has also recorded and performed regularly as a member of bands led by saxophonist Marcus Strickland, pianist Jacky Terrasson and vibraphonist Stefon Harris