[3] Graham was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States,[1] later changing his name to Idrees Sulieman, after converting to Islam.

[4] He studied at the Boston Conservatory, and gained early experience playing with the Carolina Cotton Pickers and the wartime Earl Hines Orchestra (1943–1944).

Sulieman was closely associated with Mary Lou Williams and for a time and had stints with Cab Calloway, John Coltrane, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton.

[1] Sulieman recorded with Coleman Hawkins (1957) and gigged with Randy Weston (1958–1959), in addition to appearing in many other situations.

[2] With Gene Ammons With Teddy Charles With the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band With Friedrich Gulda With the Prestige Blues-Swingers With Mal Waldron With Randy Weston With others