Born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 15, 1938, Charles Lloyd is a jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. He was given his first saxophone at the age of nine and developed a love of jazz. He perfected his craft before going out and landing jobs as a sideman for Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. At the age of 18, he moved to Los Angeles where he studied for a degree in music at the University of Southern California. In 1960, Lloyd was appointed music director of Chico Hamilton's band, a position that lasted until 1964. In 1966, Charles Lloyd formed his own quartet in New York featuring Keith Jarrett (piano), Jack DeJohnette (drums) and Cecil McBee (bass). Their debut album, Forest Flower, became one of the most successful jazz albums of the mid-‘60s. The band became a popular live act, touring the U.S. and Europe. The band released two more albums in 1966 – The Flowering and Charles Lloyd in Europe – before Cecil McBee left the band and was replaced by Ron McClure on bass. The group released three albums in 1967 - Love-In, Journey Within, and Charles Lloyd in the Soviet Union – before making their final bow on 1968’s Soundtrack. By 1970, Charles Lloyd had begun working with different group formations. Although he did occasionally work with other quartets, none were more celebrated than the classic line-up of the 1960s.
