Wardell Gray
Tenor Saxophone
February 13, 1921 -- May 25, 1955

born Oklahoma City, OK, February 13, 1921
died Las Vegas, NV, May 25, 1955

Wardell Gray was born in Oklahoma City, the youngest of four children. His early childhood years were spent in Oklahoma, before moving with his family to Detroit, Michigan  in 1929.

In Detroit, Wardell took up the saxophone and began jamming with local bands while still a teenager. 

His last job was a stint at the Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas in the spring of 1955.

Wardell Gray disappeared during the last week of May, 1955, right after the Moulin Rouge opened. Later, the 34 year old tenor man's body turned up in the desert outside of Las Vegas. He had been dead for several days and his neck was broken. 

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Wardell Gray spent his youth in Detroit, joined Earl Hines, and moved to Los Angeles in 1945. He played in numerous jam sessions on Central Avenue with Dexter Gordon, eventually recording The Chase on Savoy Records. He recorded with Charlie Parker, was a member of Benny Goodman's band, worked with Count Basie, Tadd Dameron, Benny Carter, and Louie Bellson. Wardell Gray died at age 34 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

source: Wardell Gray, Jazz Studies Online