[2] Autrey was born into a musical family in Evergreen, Alabama, United States.
[1] He played alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and performing locally in Pittsburgh and Florida.
[1] After some time in Florida he worked in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, where he played with Charlie Johnson in 1933.
[1] He played with the drummer Harry Dial, guitarist Al Casey, and reedist Gene Sedric.
[1] Autrey worked as a sideman into the 1940s with Stuff Smith, Sammy Price, and Una Mae Carlisle.