Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1919 – June 5, 1999) was a jazz arranger and writer who also played tenor saxophone. He might be best known for his work with
Count Basie. He also wrote for
Tommy Dorsey,
Harry James, and
Dizzy Gillespie. In addition to that he was musical director for albums by
Cannonball Adderley,
Dinah Washington,
Oscar Peterson, and
Buddy Rich. Wilkins was born in St. Louis, Missouri. In his early career he played in a military band, before joining Earl Hines's last big band. In 1951 he began working with Basie. After 1955 he went free-lance as a jazz arr…
read more