Dexter Gordon

Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 - April 25, 1990) was an American tenor saxophone musician. He is considered one of the first bebop tenor players. From 1940 to 1980, he played with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton, Tadd Dameron, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong and Billy Eckstine. He also played with the Fletcher Henderson band in L.A. for a few weeks in 1947.

Trivia

• Gordon's height was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and consequently he was nicknamed known as 'Long Tall Dex'.
• When he lived in Denmark, he became friends with the family of then-future Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, and subsequently became Lars's godfather.