[2] He learned how to play clarinet before joining the Army, and during his time in service, picked up the tenor saxophone.
[2] In the mid-1950s, he relocated to Los Angeles and later signed with Pacific Jazz Records, often playing with organist Paul Bryant.
In the mid-1960s, he spent three years as musical director of Ray Charles' orchestra, together with his wife, Merry Clayton, and Steve Huffsteter.
[3] As well as leading his own bands and recording albums under his own name, Amy did session work and played the solos on several recordings, including The Doors song "Touch Me", Carole King's Tapestry, and Lou Rawls' first albums, Black and Blue and Tobacco Road, coinciding with Dexter Gordon in the Onzy Matthews big band,[2][3] as well as working with Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell and Smokey Robinson.
With The Doors With Dizzy Gillespie With Carole King With Lou Rawls With Gerald Wilson