Michel Legrand, Composer, Arranger, 1932, France
Michel's father was bandleader Raymond Legrand. He studied at the Paris Conservatory with Nadia Boulanger, and from the early '50s wrote arrangements for his father and a number of French singers, as well as for his own band. He later came to New York where he wrote for Miles Davis, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. He also conducted ensembles and wrote material that was recorded by Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughn, and Phil Woods. He also performed with Phil Woods in California and in London. Michel sang and played piano on numerous recordings in this countryand in Europe.
David "Fathead" Newman. Saxophone, 1933, Dallas, TX
David played professionally in Dallas, while still in his teens. He later played alongside Ornette Coleman in a band led by Red Connors. He also worked in rhythm-and-blues bands, and in 1952 joined Ray Charles, first as a baritone saxist and then as a tenor player. In 1958 he made his first recording as a leader with Charles and Hank Crawford as sidemen. He left Charles in1964 and worked in Dallas for a couple of years before moving to New York. During the mid '70s, in New York, he worked again with Ray Charles, Red Garland, and Herbie Mann. He has recorded as a leader and as a sideman with Junior Mance among others during the 1980s.
