[2] Moore, a Pima tribe member, grew up on a Native American reservation before moving to Chicago and then Los Angeles where he learned to play various instruments, eventually settling on trombone.
Throughout his career, Moore worked with an array of artists including Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Alberta Hunter and Pee Wee Russell as well as recording under his own name.
[4] William was a bandleader who taught the brothers trumpet, French horn, trombone, piano, bass, euphonium, and drums.
[2][4] In 1929, Moore left Blue Island and moved to Chicago's South Side where he worked odd jobs.
"[4] After graduating, Moore moved to Los Angeles and was a freelance musician playing trombone with artists such as Eddie Barefield.
[4] Moore continued his relentless touring in the 1950s with Ruby Braff, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison, Jimmy McPartland, Tony Parenti, Mezz Mezzrow, Frank Sinatra and Buck Clayton.
After leaving the All Stars, Moore played with Lester Lanin’s Society Orchestra, including at the inaugural presidential balls of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
[4] According to Pee Wee Erwin, Moore once met the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who asked him where they could see him play when they next visited New York.
Moore obliged by inviting them to see him play at the Central Plaza, a catering hall with raucous crowds, in the Lower East Side.
[4] In the early 1980s, Moore led a Dixieland band and toured Canada with Cozy Cole and England with Keith Smith.