He had his biggest success in an overtly commercial rather than jazz vein, but he regarded Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Sonny Stitt as his major influences.
Austin was born in Dunnellon, Florida, United States,[2] and taught himself to play as a 12-year-old.
He won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1945, playing "Danny Boy".
Austin played with Roy Eldridge briefly in 1949, and with Cootie Williams in 1951-52[2] and Tiny Bradshaw in 1952-54, before setting up his own successful touring group.
"[3] After leaving Mercury in the 1960s, he recorded with a few other labels, including SSS, owned by Shelby Singleton.