Born: May 2, 1915, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Education: Jefferson High School, Los Angeles; National Radio and Electronics Schools, Los Angeles, 1940; conducting, National Orchestral Association, New York City, 1950s; Juilliard School, 1950s; Los Angeles City College, 1962; A.A., Music, Victorville College, 1994.
Spouses: Eddie Marie Patterson, divorced c. 1943, two children; Hazel McCloud Hurte, married 1973.