Among those scheduled to appear are several members of the Statesmen of Jazz, a collective of veterans with which Williams performed, including guitarist Howard Alden, bassist Earl May, drummer Eddie Locke, trombonist Benny Powell, pianist Jane Jarvis, and trumpeter Joe Wilder. The lineup also includes violinists Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Matt Glaser, John Blake, Jr., Rob Thomas and Sara Caswell; guitarist James Chirillo; bassist Brian Torff; Russ Dantzler, Williams' former manager; and his widow, Blanche Williams.

Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1908, Williams led his own groups and performed with many of the leading Kansas City bands, including Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, the Count Basie Band (in which he played guitar), and pianist Jay McShann's ensemble. In 1989, he appeared in the Broadway show Black and Blue.