Born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States,[1] he began his professional career at the age of 17, joining the Glenn Miller/Ray McKinley orchestra in 1961.

He is widely admired by trombonists and other musicians for his fluent and expressive playing,[1] and has produced an extensive discography as a leader, including work with Bill Holman, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Carl Fontana, and many others.

In more recent years, Whigham has been musical director of the RIAS Big Band in Berlin, Germany.

He is formerly conductor of the BBC Big Band in Great Britain and currently co-director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra with singer Marc Secara.

Since 2008 he has been a regular musical director for the Bundesjazzorchester working with the top student jazz musicians in Germany.