born March 27, 1909, Kansas City, Mo., U.S.
died Sept. 20, 1973, Amsterdam, Neth.
U.S. tenor saxophonist.
Influenced by Johnny Hodges , he played in several important swing bands before joining that of Duke Ellington in 1940. After 1943 he worked mostly as the leader of small ensembles. He moved to Copenhagen, Den., in 1964. His sensual, breathy tone and wide vibrato were his trademarks, and he became one of the master interpreters of {{link=jazz">jazz ballads.