Catlett was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Seattle.
He joined Jones's band for a European tour.
[3] He worked with Louis Armstrong, Bill Coleman, Curtis Fuller, Freddie Hubbard, Coleman Hawkins, Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Johnny Griffin and Eddie Lockjaw Davis.
[4][5] He died of heart problems and other illnesses on November 12, 2014, at age 81.
He had been living at the Leon Sullivan Health Care Center in the Central District of Seattle.