Cootie Williams, born Charles Melvin Williams on July 10, 1911, in Mobile, Alabama, was an influential American jazz trumpeter renowned for his growling "jungle" style horn and sophisticated use of the plunger mute. His career spanned over five decades, during which he played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including a long tenure with Duke Ellington's orchestra. Williams' signature style and sound made him one of the standouts of the Swing Era.

Williams started his professional career with the Young Family band, which included saxophonist Lester Young, before joining the likes of Alonzo Ross, the Syncopators, and the Willie Bryant Band. His significant break came in 1929 when he replaced Bubber Miley in Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he stayed until 1940. Williams contributed to many of Ellington’s classic recordings, including "Echoes of Harlem," which Ellington composed especially for him. In the 1940s, he led his own bands and continued to perform into the 1970s. Williams was not only pivotal in the development of swing but also embraced bebop and played with pioneering artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Albums like "Cootie Williams In Hi-Fi" and "Do Nothing Till You Hear from . . . Cootie" reflect the evolution and the lasting impact of his work, which continues to be celebrated in remastered collections like "Golden Selection." Cootie Williams passed away on September 15, 1985, but his legacy as a jazz great endures.

Genres

Jazz Trumpet

Jump Blues

Latest Release

Typhoon Cootie!

Cootie Williams

Album - 12 Tracks - Released August 13, 2021