Joe Guy
b. 20 September 1920, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, d. early '60s. After playing trumpet in the big bands led by Teddy Hill and Coleman Hawkins in the late '30s, Guy became deeply involved in the development of bebop. He was a regular performer at Minton's Playhouse, where he often played with Thelonious Monk and Charlie Christian. In 1942 he joined the Cootie Williams big band, a group which had boppish undertones thanks to the presence at one time or another of Guy, Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. In 1944 Guy took part in the first Jazz At The Philharmonic concert staged by Norman Granz. The following year Guy began a brief personal and professional relationship with Billie Holiday, but soon afterwards drifted onto the edges of the jazz scene.