Ella Fitzgerald's accompanist in the 1980s, playing with her on her last collaboration with Nelson Riddle.
He played behind Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee during the 1950s and 1960s.
His music was used on the 1969-1971 animated series The Ant and the Aardvark from DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
His daughter Stacy Rowles mastered the flugelhorn.
His recorded interviews were used for Jazz, Ken Burns' 2001 PBS documentary series.