[1] Pope was born in Ninety Six, South Carolina to musical parents and moved to North Philadelphia at the age of 10,[2] where he learned from Ray Bryant.

[4] Coltrane had called Pope to inform him that he was leaving to join Miles Davis and asked him to take his place and play with Jimmy Smith.

"[4] Early in his career, at Philadelphia's Uptown Theater, Pope played behind a number of noted rhythm and blues artists including James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

[4][5] He played briefly in the 1960s with Jimmy McGriff, and late in the 1960s he began working with Max Roach, including on tours of Europe in 1967-68.

[4] He became a regular member of Roach's quartet in 1979 and recorded extensively with him, in addition to numerous releases as a leader.