Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of 14 with the Young Family band, which included saxophonist Lester Young.[2] According to Williams he acquired his nickname as a boy when his father took him to a band concert. When it was over his father asked him what he'd heard and he replied, "Cootie, cootie, cootie."[3]
In 1928, he made his first recordings with pianist James P. Johnson in New York, where he also worked briefly in the bands of Chick Webb and Fletcher Henderson.[2] Williams rose to prominence as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra when the band was playing at the Cotton Club, with which he first performed from 1929 to 1940. He also recorded his own sessions during this time, both freelance and with other Ellington sidemen. Williams was renowned for his "jungle"-style trumpet playing (in the manner of Ellington's earlier trumpeter Bubber Miley and trombonist Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton) and for his use of the plunger mute. He also sang occasionally, a notable instrumental feature being in the Ellington piece "Echoes of the Jungle".[2] For him, Duke Ellington wrote ''Concerto for Cootie,'' which when lyrics were added became "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me". He was also the soloist in other Ellington compositions, such as "Echoes of Harlem", "Harlem Air Shaft", and the religious piece ''The Shepherd Who Watches Over the Night Flock'', which was dedicated to the Rev. John Gensel.[4]
In 1947, Williams wrote the song "Cowpox Boogie" while recuperating from a bout with smallpox. He contracted the disease from a vaccination he insisted all band members receive.[7]
By the late 1940s, Williams had fallen into obscurity, having had to reduce his band numbers and finally to disband.[2] In the 1950s, he began to play more rhythm and blues, toured with small groups, and played in the Savoy Ballroom.[4]
In the late 1950s, he formed a small jazz group and recorded a number of albums with Rex Stewart, as well as his own album, Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi (1958).[2] In 1962, he rejoined Ellington and stayed with the orchestra until 1974, after Ellington's death. In 1975, he performed during the Super Bowl IX halftime show. He was a 1991 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.[8]
Williams died in New York City on September 15, 1985, at the age of 74 from a kidney ailment. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemeteryinthe Bronx, New York City.
^Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London, UK: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN1-904041-96-5.
^ abcdefRobinson, J. Bradford (1994). "Williams, Cootie". In Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 1290.
^Curtis, Constance; Herndon, Cholie (April 30, 1949). "Know your Boroughs Orchestra Men Talk About Show Business". The New York Amsterdam News. p. 15.
^Visser, Joop (2001). "Disc Four - Take the A-Train". Duke Ellington - Masterpieces 1926-1949 (CD booklet). Duke Ellington. England: Proper. pp. 39–52. PROPERBOX 25.
