American jazz trumpet player, conductor and composer burst into the spotlight as a teenager. The Oakland, CA native became known for his ability to imitate the sound of the icon Dizzy Gillespie. He played with Charles Mingus in the early '70s and soon became a celebrated studio musician in New York City. In order to grow as a musician and focus on his solo career, he quit the studios in the mid-80s and began working on independent projects. This resulted in albums such as Legacy, Into the Faddisphere and Hornucopia. His other popular works include Fusion Jazz Masters, Jon Faddis, Jon & Billy, "A.E.N," "Sax Chase" and "Ray's Vision at the U."
