Williams was born in Ogden, Utah, but grew up in Billings, Montana, and appeared in operas and concerts as a boy soprano in the western United States.
After his voice changed, he appeared frequently in musicals and won the International Kiwanis Talent Contest in New York City at 17 for his performance of "Ol' Man River" from Show Boat.
Williams began his professional career with the Trier, Germany opera, with regular engagements with the Landestheater in Kiel and the theater in Krefeld.
Williams had a far-flung international career, appearing in many of the major opera houses of Europe and the United States, as well as in Japan.
He also recorded a CD with his daughter Judith Williams, a presenter on the German shopping channel, called Träume.