14 Facts About Booker Little

Booker Little appeared on many recordings in his short career, both as a sideman and as a leader.

Booker Little was the brother of Helena, Vivian, and Vera Little.

From such a musically inclined family, Booker Little naturally gravitated towards music at a young age.

In 1952, Booker Little started attending Manassas High School where he continued his development on trumpet and later graduated.

Booker Little was performing with Newborn on a casual basis by his mid-teens.

Booker Little was featured on pieces like "My Old Flame".

On Max Roach + 4 at Newport, Booker Little introduced his first composition, "Minor Mode", and on "A Night in Tunisia" he was the main soloist.

Booker Little had a hand in the majority of the arranging on the Deeds, Not Words album.

Many Sides of Max Roach was the last album Booker Little recorded with Roach's group until 1960.

Booker Little was present on two of the four tracks of a reunion album with his old friends Coleman, Strozier, Smith, Phineas Newborn Jr.

In 1960, Booker Little rejoined Roach's band and recorded 14 albums from April 1960 to September 1961.

Booker Little continued to work with Roach but soon met Eric Dolphy.

Booker Little recorded his final album with Roach in August 1961 titled Percussion Bitter Sweet with Dolphy on sax and recorded his last and final album as leader entitled Booker Little and Friend.

Booker Little was survived by his wife, two sons Booker T III and Larry Cornelius, and two daughters Cornelia and Ana Dorsey.