November 29, 1915 (Dayton, OH) – May 31, 1967 (New York, NY)
Grew up in Hillsboro, NC and Pittsburgh, PA. Composer and arranger with Duke Ellington’s orchestra. His compositions include “Take the A Train, Lush Life, Lotus Flowers, Chelsea Bridge, among many others. He was a founding member of the Copasetics and the President of the club from 1951 until his death in 1967.