Big Fish Ink

Jazz trumpet man Cootie Williams, who played with Duke Ellington for many years, was born this day in 1908 (d. 1985). (There is a conflict over the date of Cootie’s birth: some sources claim it was July 10, 1911, others July 24, 1908. Since data regarding blues and jazz musicians born in the late 19th century and early 20th century is often confused for various reasons, I’m going with both for now.)

Guitarist Jim Armstrong of Them was born today in 1944. Once voted the third-best rock guitarist in the world in the ’60s, he’s now nearly forgotten, but still working.