William Wells (June 10, 1907 or 1909 – November 12, 1985), known professionally as Dicky Wells (sometimes Dickie Wells), was an American jazz trombonist.

Wells was born in Centerville, Tennessee. Early in his life, he lived in Centerville with his farmer father, George Washington Wells, and mother, Florence. Wells had a brother, Charlie or Henry Wells, and three sisters, Leona, Tenny, and Georgia.

Wells and his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee for some time where he started drinking whiskey from a bar. When Wells was ten years old his stepfather Felix Murray moved the family to Louisville, Kentucky. Wells' mother was absent as she was traveling with his stepfather so his sister, Leona, took care of him and his brother. Both of Wells' parents died within a year of each other which took its toll on him.

While living in Louisville, Wells started playing in a band that was sponsored by the Booker T. Washington Community Center. This band consisted of players such as Jonah Jones, Bill Beason, Buddy Lee, and Helen Humes. The instruments were provided by Miss Bessie Allen and they were conducted by Lockwood Lewis and they traveled in a truck to play at county fairs. Wells started out playing the baritone horn but later took on the trombone as he had broken the only baritone horn they had. Wells played with this band until they decreased to a seven-piece jazz band that played funerals, parades, and parties all around Kentucky.

Wells’ first paid band job was with Lucius Brown at the Eight Mile House until a train wreck happened in Kentucky. He and the band were sitting in the back when an oil truck collided with the train and caused an explosion. The band had no casualties but the band was injured.

After a performance at Lyon's Garden, Lloyd Scott convinced him to move to Springfield to join the Bright Boys. They lived in the Sterling Hotel, in Cincinnati, Ohio until they all went to New York after Buchanan of the Savory Ballroom heard them play in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In the next few years, he played in numerous orchestras led by musicians including Benny Carter, Spike Hughes, and Fletcher Henderson. Wells replaced J.C. Higginbotham in Henderson's band in the 1930s. During this time, Wells interacted with stars like Coleman Hawkins and Henry "Red" Allen. Wells then toured with the Teddy Hill band in the late 1930s in Paris where he was recruited by jazz critic, Hugues Panassié to play for him with guitarist Django Reinhardt and trumpet player, Bill Coleman. His work there resulted with two successful recorded sessions that were under his name.

Wells was invited to Count Basie's house in 1938 because Herschel Evans and Lester Young saw his work with Hill. He was taken to play with the band at a country club in Plainfield, New Jersey which led him to get hired for a six-week show at the Famous Door. The band performed well enough to spend three months in performance. Wells was asked by Basie if he would like to continue playing with them, which he agreed to.