Gene Williams

Eugene Francis Williams (26 February 1926 East Orange, New Jersey – 12 February 1997 Wilton Manors, Florida) was an American jazz vocalist (baritone voice) and bandleader.

Career Williams began his career in 1942 as a member of the Duke Ambassadors under Sammy Fletcher, then worked in Johnny Long's orchestra while serving in the United States Army. After the war he sang with Vincent Lopez and worked with Les Elgart, George Paxton, and Bobby Sherwood; he also sang on the recording "Sorta Kinda" made by the Claude Thornhill Orchestra in 1947.

Gene Williams Orchestra Williams founded his own band, Gene Williams and the Junior Thornhill Band, in New York City in 1949; he later simplified the name to the Gene Williams Orchestra. The group played college campuses and took an engagement at the Glen Island Casino in 1952, also recording for Mercury Records.

Barbara Belle (née Belle Einhorn; born 1922) was, in 1950, personal manager for Williams, as well as Louis Prima and Fran Warren. She had also been an investor in William's band. In 1949, Belle had sold her interest in the band to Eddie Fuerst (né Edward Louis Fuerst; 1912–1994), second generation insurance broker and jazz lover who was also an original investor in the Gene Williams Orchestra.