Wardell Gray (1921-1955) was an American jazz bebop tenor saxophonist.
Wardell Gray was born in Oklahoma City, the youngest of four children. His early childhood years were spent in Oklahoma, before moving with his family to Detroit, Michigan [1] in 1929.
In early 1935, Wardell began attending Northeastern High School, and then transferred to Cass Technical High School, which is noted for having Donald Byrd, Lucky Thompson and Al McKibbon as alumni. Wardell left in 1936, before graduating. Advised by his brother-in-law Junior Warren, as a teenager Gray started on the clarinet [1], but after hearing Lester Young on record with Count Basie, he was inspired to switch to the tenor saxophone.