Born William Emanuel Huddleston, Yusef Lateef  was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and changed his name when he converted to Islam in 1950. A saxophonist and flautist, he also played bassoon and oboe among other esoteric non-western instruments. He introduced Eastern flavours into Jazz and that set him apart from other players. He is known for playing World Music before World Music had a name. He died just before Christmas at the age of 93.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusef_Lateef

Go here to read his obituary in The Guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/30/yusef-lateef

Here’s two albums he released in the late fifties:

A Prayer To The East 1957

Tender!- Cry 1959