Wardell Gray

American jazz saxophonist (1921–1955) Wardell GrayBackground informationBorn(1921-02-13)February 13, 1921Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.DiedMay 25, 1955(1955-05-25) (aged 34)Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.GenresJazz, swing, bebopOccupationMusicianInstrumentsTenor saxophone, clarinetYears active1940–1955Formerly ofEarl Hines, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Dexter GordonMusical artist Wardell Gray (February 13, 1921 – May 25, 1955) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Early years The youngest of four children, Gray was born in Oklahoma City. He spent his early childhood years in Oklahoma before he and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1929. In early 1935, Gray began attending Northeastern High School, he was then transferred to Cass Technical High School. He left in 1936, before graduating. Advised by his brother-in-law Junior Warren, Gray as a teenager started learning the clarinet. However, after hearing Lester Young on record with Count Basie, he was inspired to switch to the tenor saxophone. Gray's first musical job was in Isaac Goodwin's small band, a part-time band that played local dances. When auditioning for another job, he was hear