Percy Heath grew up in Philadelphia in a musical family, and after studying the violin during his school years, enrolled at the Granoff School of Music. He made his musical debut in New York, with his saxophonist brother Jimmy, in trumpeter Howard McGhee's band in the late '40s. For several years, he regularly accompanied jazz musicians of the Be bop generation, including trumpeters Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Clifford Brown, trombonist Jay Jay Johnson, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, pianists Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver, and others. In 1951, he replaced bassist Ray Brown in vibraphonist Milt Jackson's group, which became the definitive Modern Jazz Quartet the following year. The temporary dissolution of the MJQ in 1974 gave him the opportunity to form a quartet with his brothers Jimmy and Albert, accompanied by pianist Stanley Cowell. In 1975, Percy Heath accompanied singer Sarah Vaughan, and resumed his position as bassist when the MJQ was reconstituted in 1981. Over the years, it has become clear that Percy Heath's finesse, fluidity and precision have made him an indispensable member of this legendary group.
