Richard Gene Williams (May 4, 1931 – November 4, 1985) was an American jazz trumpeter. Williams was born in Galveston, Texas, and played tenor saxophone early in his life before picking up trumpet as a teenager. He played in local Texas bands and attended Wiley College, where he majored in music. After serving in the Air Force from 1952–56, he toured Europe with Lionel Hampton, and upon his return took a master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Richard Williams died on November 4, 1985 from kidney cancer in his Jamaica, NY home.