- He was a jazz trombonist who was influential in the development of the hard-bop sound of the 1950s and 1960s. He worked with John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, and Art Blakey, among others. He appeared on around 400 recordings throughout his career.
- He served In the Army in the 1950s, and was part of a band at Fort Knox, Kentucky, led by Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.
- In 1959, he was a founding member of the Jazztet, along with Art Farmer, Benny Golson, and McCoy Tyner. In 1961, he joined the Jazz Messengers, with Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and Cedar Walton.
- Survived by his children, Mary, Gerald, Dellaney, Wellington, Paul, Anthony, and nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grand children.
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