Ed Cuffee

b. Edward Emerson Cuffee, 7 June 1902, Norfolk, Virginia, USA, d. 3 January 1959, New York City, New York, USA. During the mid- and late 20s Cuffee played trombone with several bands, based mostly in New York, among which were Clarence Williams and McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. In 1936 he joined Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra where he remained for nearly three years. He then played in various bands, including Count Basie’s. By the late 40s, when he recorded with Bunk Johnson, Cuffee was playing only part-time and thereafter worked mostly outside music. An interesting and sometimes inspired player, Cuffee had a penchant for the blues, and was always a dependable sideman.