Howard McGhee was born on March 6, 1918, and passed away on July 17, 1987. He was one of the earliest American musicians to play bebop jazz on the trumpet, performing with other notable artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, and Idrees Sulieman. McGhee was recognized for his quick finger movements and ability to play very high notes. His skills influenced younger bebop trumpet players, including Fats Navarro.

Biography

Howard McGhee was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan.

During his career, he played in bands led by Lionel Hampton, Andy Kirk, Count Basie, and Charlie Barnet. He was in a club when he listened to the radio and first heard Charlie Parker. He was among the first musicians to use the new style of music.

In 1946–47, some record sessions for a new label called Dial were held in Hollywood, California. Charlie Parker and Howard McGhee were part of these sessions. The first session took place on July 29, 1946. The musicians included Charlie Parker, Howard McGhee, Jimmy Bunn, Bob Kesterson, and Roy Porter. At this time, Parker’s health was very poor, but he performed songs such as "Max is Making Wax," "Lover Man," and "The Gypsy."

McGhee continued to play with Parker as a supporting musician. He performed on recordings like "Relaxin' at Camarillo," "Cheers," "Carvin' the Bird," and "Stupendous." Around this time, McGhee was a leading musician in the Los Angeles bebop scene. He participated in many concerts, recordings, and briefly managed a nightclub. His time in California ended because of racial discrimination, especially harsh treatment directed at McGhee because he was part of a mixed-race couple.

Drug problems caused McGhee to take a break from music for much of the 1950s. He returned in the 1960s and appeared in many productions by George Wein. His career slowed again in the mid-1960s, and he did not record music until 1976. In the late 1960s, he led one of three jazz big bands in New York trying to succeed. Although the band did not last, a recording of its work was released in the mid-1970s.

McGhee taught music during the 1970s, both in classrooms and at his apartment in midtown Manhattan. He taught musicians like Charlie Rouse about music theory. He was also highly skilled as a composer and arranger.

McGhee died on July 17, 1987, at the age of 69. A memorial service was held for him on July 24, 1987.

Discography

• 1946–47: Night Music (Dial, 1951) with Hank Jones, Milt Jackson, James Moody, and Dodo Marmarosa
• 1946–47: Trumpet at Tempo (The Complete Dial Sessions) (Spotlite, 1976; CD reissue: Jazz Classics, 1996)
• 1948: Howard McGhee and Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1955)
• 1948: Be Bop (Atlantic, 1952) with Jimmy Heath and Percy Heath
• 1950: Howard McGhee (Blue Note, 1952) with Fats Navarro
• 1952: Jazz Goes to the Battle Front, Volume 1 (Hi-Lo, 10-inch)
• 1952: Jazz Goes to the Battle Front, Volume 2 (Hi-Lo, 10-inch)
• 1953: Howard McGhee, Vol. 2 (Blue Note, 10-inch) with Gigi Gryce
• 1955: The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem) [a.k.a. That Bop Thing]
• 1956: Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Bethlehem)
• 1956: Jazz South Pacific (Regent) with J. J. Johnson and Oscar Pettiford; reissues the Hi-Lo material
• 1960: Dusty Blue (Bethlehem)
• 1960: Music from the Connection (Felsted)
• 1961: Together Again!!!! (Contemporary) with Teddy Edwards
• 1961: Maggie's Back in Town!! (Contemporary)
• 1961: The Sharp Edge (Fontana) [a.k.a. Shades of Blue]
• 1962: Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out (United Artists)
• 1963: House Warmin'! (Argo); originally issued in 1962 on Winley Records as Nothin' But Soul under Gene Ammons's name
• 1976: Here Comes Freddy (Sonet) with Illinois Jacquet
• 1976: Just Be There (SteepleChase) with Horace Parlan and Kenny Clarke
• 1977: Cookin' Time, Howard McGhee Orchestra (Zim Records)
• 1978: Live at Emerson's, Howard McGhee Sextet (Zim Records)
• 1978: Jazz Brothers (Jazzcraft) with Charlie Rouse
• 1978: Home Run (Jazzcraft) with Benny Bailey
• 1979: Young at Heart (Storyville) with Teddy Edwards
• 1979: Wise in Time (Storyville) with Teddy Edwards

With Lorez Alexandria

• Deep Roots (Argo, 1962)
• Rainbow Mist (Delmark, 1944 [1992]); compilation of Apollo recordings
• Maggie: The Savoy Sessions (Savoy, 1947 [1995]); includes the infamous Eckstine/McGhee four-song session, originally recorded in Chicago for Vitacoustic Records; personnel: Howard McGhee (tp), Billy Eckstine (vtb), Kenny Mann (ts), Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), J. C. Heard (d), Marcel Daniels (v)
• Songs from the Heart (Bethlehem, 1955)
• All of Me: The Debonair Mr. Hartman (Bethlehem, 1956)
• Hollywood Stampede (Capitol, 1945 [1972])
• Disorder at the Border (Spotlite, 1952 [1973])
• Chubby Jackson's All Stars (Prestige, 7-inch EP, 1950 [1954])
• Chubby Jackson Sextet and Big Band (Prestige, 1947–50 [1969])
• James Moody, His Saxophone and His Band (Dial, 10-inch, 1947 [1950])
• Cookin' the Blues [live] (Argo, 1961 [1964])
• André Previn All-Stars (Monarch, 1946)
• Previn at Sunset (Polydor, 1972)
• George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (Bethlehem, 1956) with Frances Faye
• At the Crescendo (Bethlehem, 1957)
• Songs for Any Taste (Bethlehem, 1957)

• 1954: Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday at Jazz at the Philharmonic (Clef) – recorded 1945–1946
• 1956: Wardell Gray, Way Out Wardell (Modern)
• 1960: Freddie Redd, The Music from "The Connection" (Blue Note)
• 1962: Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra (Verve)
• 1962: Zoot Sims, Good Old Zoot (New Jazz)
• 1963: Phil Porter, Introducing Phil Porter and His Organ (United Artists)
• 1963: Joe Williams, At Newport '63 (RCA Victor)
• 1967: Newport Parker Tribute All Stars, Tribute To Charlie Parker (From The Newport Jazz Festival) (RCA Victor) – recorded 1964
• 1968: Don Patterson, Boppin' & Burnin' (Prestige)
• 1969: Phil Woods, Early Quintets (Prestige) – recorded 1959
• 1976: Gene Ammons, Red Top: The Savoy Sessions 1947–1953 (Savoy)
• 1976: Eddie Jefferson, The Jazz Singer (Inner City) – recorded 1959–1961
• 1989: Sonny Stitt, Autumn in New York (Black Lion) – recorded 1967
• 1991: Sonny Criss, California Boppin'