Trivia

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 Tormé, 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, two daughters, Francine, and Michelle, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.