William Alonzo "Cat" Anderson, born on September 12, 1916, in Greenville, South Carolina, emerged as a legendary jazz trumpeter renowned for his extraordinary high-note ability and long association with Duke Ellington's orchestra. After losing both parents at the age of four, Anderson was raised at the Jenkins Orphanage in Charleston, where he first learned to play the trumpet. His early musical career began with the Carolina Cotton Pickers, a group of fellow Jenkins alumni.

Anderson's career soared when he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1944, becoming an integral part of the ensemble's sound with his remarkable range and altissimo register capabilities. He was known for his powerful high-note solos, often performed without a microphone, and his versatility in various jazz styles. Anderson's contributions to Ellington's orchestra were highlighted in pieces like "El Gato," "Trumpet No End," and "Jam with Sam."

Throughout his career, Anderson also collaborated with notable artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, and Charles Mingus, and recorded several albums under his own name. His discography includes "Cat on a Hot Tin Horn" and "Cat Anderson Plays at 4 AM."

After his tenure with Ellington, Anderson settled in Los Angeles, where he continued to perform and record until his death from brain cancer on April 29, 1981. His legacy as one of the greatest high-note trumpeters in jazz history remains influential.