Booker Little

American jazz trumpeter

Born April 2, 1938 in Memphis Tennessee, died October 5, 1961 in New York City, New York

Recorded with [a=Max Roach], [a=Eric Dolphy], [a=Abbey Lincoln], [a=John Coltrane] and [a=Booker Ervin].Died of uremia at the age of 23. Younger brother of operatic contralto [a=Vera Little] and cousin of trumpeter [a743908].

He grew up in a musically inclined family and naturally gravitated towards music. He started with the trombone, switched to clarinet at age twelve, and found his calling with the trumpet at the age of fourteen. He moved to Chicago, Illinois to continue his studies at the Chicago Conservatory in 1954, earning a degree in the trumpet while also studying composition, theory, orchestration, and a minor in piano.

While attending a recording session with [a=Sonny Rollins], Little met drummer Max Roach in 1955. He joined his band the Max Roach Four. Little found it tough balancing school and the band, and so his playing suffered and he was replaced. However, after graduating, he quickly joined the band again in 1958. That year, Little made his recording debut on "Max Roach + 4 on the Chicago Scene". He recorded his first LP as bandleader in October of 1958 "Booker Little 4 & Max Roach".