July 7, 1930 – Born in Eastman, Georgia
1938 – Begins learning the piano
1946 – Gets an alto saxophone
1948 – Begins gigging in Newark, New Jersey. Also switched to tenor sax
1950 – Tours with r&b band of Paul Gayton. Also worked with a house band that also included pianist Walter Davis, Jr.
1951-1953 – Played in drummer Max Roach's band
Summer 1953 – Played with Clifford Brown in Tadd Dameron's band. Also rejoined Gayton's band briefly
1954 – Performed and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie. Joined Horace Silver's band at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem
1954-1956 – Performed in the original line-up of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
1956-1957 – Rejoined Silver's band
1957 – Played with Thelonious Monk
1959 – Briefly rejoined the Jazz Messengers
1961 – Joined Miles Davis' band
1964 – Arrested on drug charges
March 1967-Mid-1970 – Traveled out of the country for the first time for a tour of Europe
July 31, 1970 – Recorded his final album Thinking of Home
Mid-1970-1972 – Co-led a group with pianist Cedar Walton
1972 – Largely quit performing due to bad health
May 30, 1986 – Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
