A jazz trombonist who led the influential Count Basie orchestra after Basie's death.
He studied the bugle and later switched to trombone during his school years.
He joined Count Basie's group in 1962 and stayed until the 1970s; coming back again only in 1995 as its third leader after Basie himself.
He was born in Alabama and moved to Pittsburgh with his family when he was 8.
He grew up inspired by trombonists and band leaders like Tommy Dorsey.
