J. Mayo "Ink" Williams (September 25, 1894 – January 2, 1980) was a pioneering African-American record producer and talent scout, renowned for his significant contributions to the blues and jazz music industry from the 1920s through the 1940s. Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Williams moved to Monmouth, Illinois, at a young age following the murder of his father. He excelled in academics and sports, particularly football, at Monmouth High School. Williams attended Brown University, where he continued to shine as a track and football star.

In the early 1920s, Williams became one of the first Black players in the National Football League (NFL), playing for teams such as the Hammond Pros and the Canton Bulldogs. Despite his athletic prowess, his passion for music led him to the recording industry. He began his career with Paramount Records, where he became the first African-American executive at a major record label, managing their "race records" division. Williams was instrumental in discovering and producing numerous legendary artists, including Ma Rainey, Papa Charlie Jackson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Jelly Roll Morton.

In 1927, Williams founded the Black Patti label, one of the first independent Black record labels in the United States, though it struggled against major competitors. During the Great Depression, he briefly left the music industry to coach football at Morehouse College. Returning to music, he joined Decca Records, where he continued to produce and promote a wide array of artists, such as Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. His work laid the groundwork for the jump blues trend, a precursor to rock and roll.

Williams' career was not without controversy; he was known for securing contracts that favored the record labels over the artists, leading to criticism from some musicians. Despite this, his impact on the music industry was profound, and he is remembered as a trailblazer who broke racial barriers and shaped the sound of American music.