Career
Born in Brooklyn, New York, United States, his first professional work was touring with Mercer Ellington in 1948, and in 1953 he toured with Ben Webster. He played with Kenny Dorham"s Jazz Prophets in 1956 and with Gigi Gryce and in 1957-1958 toured with Dinah Washington., as well as on Very Saxy (1959), featuring Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, and Arnett Cobb on tenors, an album recorded shortly after Blow Arnett, Blow (1959).
As well as appearing on recordings with the above line-ups, he also played in quartets led by Horace Silver, including one featuring Cecil Payne, in 1954, and at Minton"s with Hank Mobley and Doug Watkins, a line-up that also jammed on one occasion with Charlie Parker and Annie Laurie.