BIRTHDAY
Feb 15, 1937 February 15
BIRTHPLACE
Kansas City KS
DEATH DATE
Apr 8, 2024 (age 81)
BIRTH SIGN
About
Famous for his leadership of the Paris Reunion Band and the neo soul group The Roots. He was also notable for his work in the hard-bop sub-genre of jazz music.
Trivia
In 2004, he wrote an opera titled Just Above My Head.
Before Fame
After earning his doctorate in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, he began heading the jazz studies program at the University of Pittsburgh.
Family Life
He spent his youth in Kansas City, Kansas, and later lived and worked in Paris, France.
Associated With
His musical collaborators include jazz flautist Eric Dolphy and soul singer Ray Charles.