He was a saxophonist, nicknamed Hippmo from childhood,
born in Chicago, Illinois, who studied at college and in those years became
firm friends and a fellow musician with Louis Satterfield, who he would
work with from then on.He
joined his college band, The Jazzmen, where one of them was his future
co-musician, Maurice White, and after branching out as professional
musician he became a member of Chicago's Old Regal Theater's house band,
The Pharoahs and backed artists ranging from Louis Armstrong to Smokey
Robinson.Maurice White called
up him and Louis Satterfield and asked them to move to California and this
was the beginning of the famed horn section of Earth, Wind & Fire known
as The Phenix Horns.He also
toured and recorded with Phil Collins as a member of The Phenix Horns, and is
remembered for his performance of the sax solo on his "One More Night" as
well as Earth, Wind & Fire's "After the Love Has Gone" and "Runnin'" which
one him the "Best R&B Instrumental" Grammy Award in 1977.Continually called up by other
artists he also performed with artists such as Anita Baker, The Dells, The
Gap Band, Heaven 17, LaToya Jackson, The Jacksons, Diana Ross, Patrice
Rushen, Carlos Santana, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., Howlin'
Wolf and many others.Albums
he appeared on through the course of his career include Rapture by
Anita Baker, Knee Plays by David Byrne, Face Value, Hello,
I Must Be Going, But Seriously... and No Jacket Required by Phil
Collins, Take It to the Limit by Norman Connors, Gratitude, All 'n'
All, Eternal Dance, Faces, Raise, Powerlight and I Am by Earth,
Wind & Fire, Flowers and Rejoice by The Emotions, Something's
Going On by Frida, The Gap Band, Classic by Adrian
Gurvitz, Everything is Everything by Donny Hathaway, That's What
Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, In the
Basement by The Pharoahs, Special Things by The Pointer Sisters,
Changing of the Gard by Stargard, Tenderness Togetherness by
Stanley Turrentine and Whisper in Your Ear by The Whispers. Suffering
from leukaemia, tragedy struck when he was fatally shot by a police officer
in Santa Monica after his house was visited due to allegations of drug
charges.The officer opened
his door to find him with a lighter in his hand, which was obviously
thought to be a weapon.In
1995 it was deemed a wrongful death and the city paid a $400,000
settlement.He was just 53
years old.
