"Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" (also written as "Do Nothin' Til You Hear from Me") is a song with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Bob Russell. It originated as a 1940 instrumental ("Concerto for Cootie") that was designed to highlight the playing of Ellington's lead trumpeter, Cootie Williams; Russell's words were added later. In 1944, Ellington's own recording of the song was a number one hit on the Harlem Hit Parade chart for eight non-consecutive weeks and number six on the pop chart.
Other recordings of the song that reached the Billboard charts in 1944 were by Woody Herman and by Stan Kenton (vocal: Red Dorris).
Other versions "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" has since been performed by many other famous musical artists, including: Nat King Cole, 1944, with The King Cole TrioThe King Cole Trio. Sessions of 1944. Nat King Cole: An Informal Discography. Billie Holiday, 1944 – Live, 1955, Studio, Stay With MeHoliday, Billie. B. Live Sessions. Billie Holiday Songs. Lena Horne, 1944, appears on her 2002 compilation album The Young StarHorne, Lena. The Young Star (CD, Compilation, Remastered, Mono). RCA/BMG/Bluebird. 2 September 2002. Patti Page, 1949, released in 1986 on The Uncollected Patti Page (1949): Patti Page with Lou Stein's MusicPage, Patti. The Uncollected Patti Page...with Lou Stein's Music. Hindsight, 1986. Hampton Hawes, 1956 – All Night Session! Vol. 3 Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1957 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the album Shall We Dance? (2012). Ella Fitzgerald, 1957, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Mose Allison, 1959 – Autumn Song Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, 1961, The Great SummitLouis Armstrong & Duke Ellington. The Complete...Sessions. Roulette Records, 1990. Nina Simone, 1962, Nina Simone Sings Ellington Dinah Washington, 1962, In Love Sammy Davis Jr. (with Sam Butera & the Witnesses, 1965, When the Feeling Hits You! Robert Palmer, 1992, Ridin' High Diana Krall, 1993, Stepping Out Tony Bennett, 1999, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool Andy Williams, 2000, Released on his 2001 live album Andy Williams LiveWilliams, Andy. Andy Williams Live: Treasures from His Personal Collection. Neon Records, 10 July 2001. Mary J. Blige, 2001, Red Hot + Indigo
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