Dr. Yusef Lateef (born William Emanuel Huddleston, October 9, 1920) is an American jazz musician. He plays principally on tenor saxophone and flute. He is known for his innovative blending of "Eastern" music with American jazz. He also plays the oboe, bamboo flute, shanai, shofar, arghul, sarewa, and koto. Early life Yusef Lateef was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1925, Lateef and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan where Lateef's musical career would begin. Throughout his early life Lateef came into contact with a number of accomplished jazz musicians including Milt Jackson, Paul Chambers, Elvin Jones, and Kenny Burrell. Lateef was a proficient saxophonist by the time of his graduation from high school at age 18, at which point he launched his professional career and began touring with a number of swing bands. In 1949, Lateef was invited by Dizzy Gillespie to tour with his world-renowned orchestra. At this time Late

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