Bobbi Humphrey

Bobbi Humphrey is a jazz flautist who was born in Marlin, Texas and raised in Dallas. She started playing the flute at school and then graduated from Southern Methodist University. Following advice from Dizzy Gillespie, who had spotted her potential, she moved to New York in 1971 and was the first woman signed by the Blue Note label.

She recorded six albums for Blue Note, with the most popular probably being 1973's 'Blacks and Blues'. Her other Blue Note albums were 'Flute In' (1971), 'Dig This' (1972), 'Satin Doll' (1974), 'Live at Montreux' (1974) and 'Fancy Dancer' (1975).

She became known as the first lady of flute and was something of a legend in the New York jazz scene. Her most loved songs include 'Harlem Drive', 'Uno Esta' and 'Please Set Me at Ease'.

After switching labels to Epic in 1977, she released the album 'Tailor Made' later that year. That year she also played on Stevie Wonder's massively successful album 'Songs in the Key of Life'.

Her next releases were the albums 'Freestyle' in 1978 and 'The Good Life' in 1979. After a break from recording she released 'City Beat' in 1989 and 'Passion Flute' in 1995. She has continued to gig and make music on her own terms since and set up her own Paradise Sounds record label. Her work has been sampled by rappers such as Ice-T.