- He was a jazz pianist and composer who worked with Miles Davis, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and Stan Getz, among others. He was influenced by African, classical and avant-garde music.
- He was on the faculty of New York's Lehman College and Rutgers University.
- His parents owned a restaurant and a hotel that welcomed visiting Black musicians. He showed early talent on the piano. At age 6 he met fellow Toledo native Art Tatum, a jazz piano legend. He graduated from the music conservatory at Oberlin College, and studied at several other schools, including the Mozarteum University Salzburg. He received a master's degree in classical piano performance from the University of Michigan, then went to New York to pursue his jazz career.
- Co-founder of Strata-East Records with Charles Tolliver.
- Has two daughters, Sunny, and Sienna and two grandchildren.
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