"[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 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".

[4] In 1940, Williams joined Benny Goodman's orchestra, a highly publicized move that caused quite a stir at the time[5] (commemorated by Raymond Scott with the song "When Cootie Left the Duke"),[6] then in 1941 formed his own orchestra, in which over the years he employed Charlie Parker, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Bud Powell, Eddie Vinson, and other young players.