John B. Williams, “Tonight Show” and “Arsenio Hall Show” musician, is in hospice care after fall

Raechal ShewfeltWed, June 3, 2026 at 10:58 PM UTC

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John B. Williams on 'The Arsenio Hall Show'
Credit: Paramount Television/Courtesy EverettKey Points -

Musician John B. Williams has entered hospice care after suffering a fall, his wife told TMZ.

Williams was a member of in-house bands for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Arsenio Hall Show.

The artist was the inspiration for Hall’s comedy bit, the "John B. Williams Poetry Moment."

Musician John B. Williams, who played on both The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Arsenio Hall's self-titled late-night series in the early '90s, has entered hospice care, his wife tells TMZ.

Jessica Williams told the outlet that John, who is 85, had previously suffered from dementia, but he recently had a fall that required brain surgery. The procedure left him unable to walk and talk.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a rep for the musician for comment.

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Williams' online bio notes that he played multiple instruments as a teenager, then entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1960. After fulfilling his commitment, he eventually earned a spot in the Horace Silver Quintet, whose eponymous leader introduced him to the bass.

He was recommended to Tonight Show Musical Director Doc Severinsen in 1969, and played with the Tonight Show Band while simultaneously sharing bass duties for Sesame Street. After seven years in late night, however, the musician recalled having had "talk show burnout."

Williams, top left, on 'The Arsenio Hall Show'
Credit: Paramount Television/Courtesy Everett

But eventually, n 1989, he returned to late night, joining The Arsenio Hall Show show as a member of its in-house band "The Posse."

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Williams also released multiple albums and played with other legendary musicians, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Hugh Masakela, Roy Ayers, and Count Basie.

In a 2014 interview with For Bass Players Only, he was asked about Notes on Life, a 2011 album that he recorded with his wife.

"It was comprised of music and monologues I call 'jazz theater,'" Williams said. "The idea came about during the years I spent doing the very popular Arsenio Hall Show, as a member of the 'Posse' studio band and also doing tongue-in-cheek poetry, which became a regular part of the show titled, 'The John B. Williams Poetry Moment.'"

Through that, Williams said, he began performing in the theater, which left him "hooked."

In March 2022, a video clip of Williams's interaction with Arsenio guest Will Smith went viral after the actor infamously slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. Smith had made a joke about Williams being bald back in 1991.

"I didn't take it seriously," Williams told Rolling Stone. "He was a comedian. He was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He was a rapper. I took it as a joke. I laughed it off."

on Entertainment Weekly

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