Charles Ellsworth "Pee Wee" Russell was born on March 27, 1906, in Maplewood, Missouri, and grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A unique and unclassifiable jazz musician, Russell became known for his highly individualistic and spontaneous clarinet style that defied classification. Throughout his career, he incorporated elements of traditional jazz, swing, bebop, and free jazz, making significant contributions to the genre.

Russell's early exposure to music came from his indulgent parents, who provided him with various instruments. He ultimately settled on the clarinet after being inspired by Alcide "Yellow" Nunez's improvisations at a local Elks Club dance. His professional career began in the early 1920s, playing with bands such as the Allen Brothers tent show and on riverboats. By the mid-1920s, Russell was a sought-after jazz clarinetist, performing with notable musicians like Jack Teagarden, Frankie Trumbauer, and Bix Beiderbecke.

In the 1930s, Russell moved to New York, where he became a fixture in Eddie Condon's bands and collaborated with jazz greats like Bobby Hackett and Red Allen. Despite his preference for small groups, Russell's talent was recognized in larger settings, such as his participation in Fats Waller's Carnegie Hall debut in 1942.

Russell's career was marked by his distinctive clarinet style, characterized by growls, squeaks, and whispers, which expressed his daring musical personality. Despite struggles with health and alcohol, he continued to perform and record, proving his versatility by playing with Thelonious Monk at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Pee Wee Russell passed away on February 15, 1969, in Alexandria, Virginia, leaving behind a legacy as one of jazz's most inventive and expressive voices.