Gene Williams is best remembered as vocalist for Claude Thornhill's orchestra in the late 1940s. Williams was a member of the Duke Ambassadors under Sam Fletcher in 1942. He worked with Johnny Long's orchestra until being caught in the draft. After a two-year stint in the Army he joined Vincent Lopez. He also worked for Les Elgart, George Paxton, and Bobby Sherwood before being hired by Thornhill around 1947.
In 1949 Williams formed his own orchestra, backed, initially at least, by Thornhill. Known as Gene Williams and the Junior Thornhill Band, the group recorded on Mercury Records and featured Stan Getz. The band followed a similar style as its parent though included the occasional bop number. The group later became known simply as the Gene Williams Orchestra. It also recorded for King Records. Though short-lived, Williams' outfit finagled a booking into the Glen Island Casino before it disbanded. They are best remembered for their popular instrumental ''Just Goofin'.'' Aside from Williams himself, Patti Dugan briefly served as vocalist.