John B. Williams, Bassist for Johnny Carson and Arsenio Hall, Dies at 85
We’re sad to share that bassist John B. Williams passed away on June 4th, 2026. He was 85 years old. The news comes shortly after reports that he had been placed in hospice care.
Williams is best known for his stints on late-night television, first with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in the ’70s and then on The Arsenio Hall Show during the ’80s and ’90s. Away from his television career, he was a highly accomplished jazz artist who played with Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Burrell, and many others.
He spent over 25 years as the bassist for jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson. The singer’s Facebook page posted a tribute to him, calling Williams “one of the kindest, most humble souls to ever step onto a stage.”
“For more than twenty five years, John was far more than Nancy Wilson’s bassist, John was one of her trusted musical anchors,” the post stated. “Nancy often joked that she did not read music and depended on the bass to help her find what she called ‘her spot.’ Night after night, city after city, she found that spot with John. He was her guide, her foundation, and one of her beloved ‘gentlemen.'”
Watch his incredible accompaniment style with Wilson on “Teach Me Tonight”:
Williams, who studied with Ron Carter, was also a hero for fellow bassists. Leland Sklar shared his thoughts on Facebook, saying “So very sorry to hear of the passing of the great John B. Williams. I loved hanging with him and so enjoyed his playing in theTonight Show Band and the Arsenio Hall Band. A beautiful soul and glorious man……..my heart is with his family!”
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of John B. Williams.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
