Charles Melvin “Cootie” Williams (July 10, 1911 – September 15, 1985) was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of fourteen with the Young Family band, which included saxophonist Lester Young. 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.”

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. He 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”. 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 like ””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.