[1] Richard Thomas Vance was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio,[1] where he learned violin before concentrating on trumpet.
In 1939, he joined Chick Webb's orchestra, and remained in the group when Ella Fitzgerald took over leadership.
From 1944 to 1947 he studied at Juilliard, and moonlighted as a pit orchestra musician and an arranger for artists Harry James, Cab Calloway, Earl Hines and Duke Ellington.
During this time he played on notable Broadway productions including Pal Joey, Beggar's Holiday, and in the off-stage band for Streetcar Named Desire.
[4] In 1979, he was cited as the composer for the documentary film No Maps on My Taps, starring Lionel Hampton and Howard Sims.