William Clayton "Pee Wee" Marquette (October 10, 1914 – September 21, 1992)[1] was the former master of ceremonies at the Birdland jazz club in New York City.
[3] Marquette began his career with the Francis Craig Orchestra in Nashville, and was a part of that organization for ten years, both dancing and telling jokes.
In 1936, "Willie (Pee Wee) Marquette" is listed as one of the performers in Nashville's spring musical, presented by the Friendship Interest Club, and held in the parlors of the Gardner Undertaking Company.
[12] In 1988, Marquette filed a $2 million lawsuit against Warner Brothers in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleging that the Clint Eastwood film Bird portrayed him (via actor Tony Cox) in an unflattering and demeaning manner.
He can be heard in the introductory sequence and tail of "Birdland" on the Quincy Jones album Back on the Block (released in 1989) as well as the introduction on Us3's hit song, "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia).