Cootie Williams
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Biography
Trumpeter Charles Williams â born July 10, 1911 in Mobile, Alabama â was better known by his nickname Cootie. Best known as a member of Duke Ellingtonâs orchestra, Williams specialized in several musical styles including traditional American jazz, rhythm & blues, and jump blues. His musical journey began at the age of 14 when he performed with The Young Family, a group that featured tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Relocating to New York in 1928, he made his first recordings with pianist James P. Johnson and played with bands led by Fletcher Henderson and Chick Webb. In 1929, he joined Duke Ellingtonâs orchestra at the time they had a residency at the Cotton Club in Harlem. While he remained a member of Ellingtonâs band, he also recorded his own sessions and worked as a sideman for other musicians. Williams caused controversy when he left Ellington and joined Benny Goodmanâs orchestra. The following year, he formed his own orchestra, which featured many jazz greats over the years including Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Eddie Vinson, Eddie âLockjawâ Davis, and others. By the late â40s, his popularity had waned and he eventually disbanded his group. He turned to playing rhythm ânâ blues in the early â50s, eventually returning to jazz and forming a small group. After recording collaboration albums with Rex Stewart ( 1957âs The Big Challenge) and Wini Brown (1959âs Around Midnight), he released Cootie Williams In HiFi (1958) and Cootie (1959), his first albums as a leader. More collaborations and solo albums followed before he rejoined Elllingtonâs band in 1962 and remained with him until Ellingtonâs death in 1974. Williams continued to record and perform until his death on September 15, 1985.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- On the Alamo featuring Charlie Christian
- How Could You featuring Johnny Hodges
- Carelessly featuring Johnny Hodges
- Moanin' Low featuring Johnny Hodges
- Ain't Got No Blues Today (Redd-Redd-Williams)
- I Found a New baby featuring Charlie Christian
- Round Midnight
- Everything But You (Ellington-George-James)
- The Shepherd featuring Cootie Williams
- The Shepherd
- Tootie For Cootie featuring Cootie Williams
- Salt Lake City Bounce (Johnson-Hastings)
- Gone With What Draft featuring Charlie Christian
- I'm Beginning To See The Light by Rex Stewart
- I Got A Right To Sing The Blues by Rex Stewart
- Walkin' My Baby Back Home by Rex Stewart
- Ol' Man River (Smoke A Little Tea) featuring Cootie Williams
- Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me by Rex Stewart
- Alphonse And Gaston by Rex Stewart
- When Your Lover Has Gone by Rex Stewart
- When My Baby Left Me (Williams-Vinson)
- I Knew You When by Rex Stewart
- House Of Joy (Williams-Hanighen)
- Air Mail Special (Good Enough to Keep) featuring Benny Goodman
