American saxophonist and flautist, composer and arranger
American flutist and tenor and alto saxophonist who grew up in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and in Washington, DC.
He performed with Billy Eckstine , Eddie Heywood , and Lucky Millinder in the 1940s, and from June 1953 to August 1964 he was a member of Count Basie s big band, in which he played saxophone. He recorded music with Thad Jones, Kenny Clarke , Milt Jackson , Kenny Burrell , Dorothy Ashby , and Etta Jones. He performed in Broadway shows and studio bands for television. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, he worked with Kenny Barron , Rufus Reid , Buck Clayton , Benny Carter , Billy Taylor , Harry Edison , Mel Torm , Ernestine Anderson , Toshiko Akiyoshi , Louie Bellson , John Pizzarelli , Howard Alden , Dick Hyman , Byron Stripling , Jane Jarvis , and Frank Vignola.
Renowned for establishing the flute as a jazz instrument.
He was a member of Clark Terry s big band from 1967 into the 1970s.
Survivors included Sara Tsutsumi, his common law wife.
