[2] During his military service in 1947 Bishop was based near St Louis and met touring bebop musicians.

[2] He recorded with Milt Jackson and Stan Getz in 1949, then played with Charlie Parker (1951–54), Oscar Pettiford, Kai Winding, and Miles Davis (1951–53).

After studying at The Juilliard School with Hall Overton in the late 1960s,[2] Bishop taught music theory at colleges in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

At some point prior to moving from New York to Los Angeles, Bishop met and married the former Valerie Isabel Paul.

Bishop died of a heart attack at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan on January 24, 1998.

"[2] With Gene Ammons With Shorty Baker and Doc Cheatham With Art Blakey With Rocky Boyd With Miles Davis With Kenny Dorham With Curtis Fuller With John Handy With Bill Hardman With Milt Jackson With Ken McIntyre With Jackie McLean With Blue Mitchell With Hank Mobley With Charlie Parker With Oscar Pettiford With Dizzy Reece With Charlie Rouse With Archie Shepp With Sonny Stitt With Harold Vick With Stan Getz Zoot Sims etc.