American jazz trombonist, songwriter and arranger.
Born : October 05, 1910 in Leesburg, Florida - Died : February 19, 1993 in New York City, New York.
He began his career in 1932 as a trombonist and singer with the Claude Hopkins Orchestra. In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, he was a music arranger for Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Jack Teagarden, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey, among others. The Benny Goodman Orchestra recorded his composition Smoke House Rhythm in 1938. In the 1950’s he was a music director with several recording companies and worked closely with singers including Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.