[1] He was an outstanding varsity basketball player as a teenager and was offered a scholarship to the Detroit Institute of Technology; he attended the school for three semesters and then dropped out to tour with Yusef Lateef.

Following this he freelanced in New York City through the 1960s and early 1970s, playing with Lateef again (1967–70), Sonny Stitt, Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Junior Cook, Blue Mitchell, Charles McPherson, Pharoah Sanders (1970), Wes Montgomery, Dollar Brand, Jackie McLean, James Moody (1970–72), Charles Mingus (1972–73), and Milt Jackson.

This is the sole available recording of this innovative select group assembled by Roy Brooks as the Improvisational Sphere for the three-day performance run at Lelli's.

In 2021, the Reel To Real label released Understanding, a two-CD live recording from 1970 featuring Brooks with saxophonist Carlos Garnett, trumpeter Woody Shaw, pianist Harold Mabern, and bassist Cecil McBee.

[5] With Chet Baker With Junior Cook With Red Garland With Dexter Gordon With Abdullah Ibrahim With Yusef Lateef With M'Boom / with Max Roach With Charles McPherson With Blue Mitchell With David Newman With Sonny Red With Shirley Scott With Woody Shaw With Horace Silver With Sonny Stitt With John Wright