Tommy Williams and Interplay

A native of Baltimore, Tom Williams studied both trumpet and drums throughout high school. After studying at Towson State University, Tom joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, with whom he played the national tour of Broadway’s Sophisticated Ladies. In 1987 he enlisted in the US Army and served 8 years as a featured soloist with the “Jazz Ambassadors” and “Army Blues” jazz ensembles. In 1991 he was a finalist and 2nd place winner in the first Louis Armstrong International Jazz Trumpet Competition sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Tom has played in many show bands including Pattie labelle, Liberace, Anita Baker, Sid Caesar, Joe Williams, Stevie Wonder and Rosemary Clooney.