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
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