While in college he played with local bands, and during summer vacations he toured with Nat Towles and the trumpeter Lloyd Hunter.

[3] In the mid to late 1950s, Quinichette also accompanied vocalist Dinah Washington on EmArcy recordings, and played with Benny Goodman and Nat Pierce (both 1955), John Coltrane (1957), and Billie Holiday.

[3] Grove comments that "Quinichette's style displayed a sense of swing unequaled among those musicians who followed Young.

"[3] Writing in 1959, critic John S. Wilson stated that, after leaving Basie, "Quinichette has inclined to a coarseness of tone and ideas and an attack that stems as much from the less palatable side of Illinois Jacquet as it does from Young.

"[5] With Gene Ammons With Count Basie With Bob Brookmeyer With Billie Holiday With Jay McShann With The Prestige All Stars With Sarah Vaughan With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson With Mal Waldron With Dinah Washington With Webster Young