Jazz World Remembers Yusef Lateef

Yusef Lateef, a legend in the world of jazz, has died at age 93 at his home near Amherst, Massachusetts. The multi-talented Grammy-winner, who was born in Chattanooga as William Emanuel Huddleston (he converted to Islam around 1950) enjoyed a career that stretched for more than seven decades, during which he became renowned as an instrumentalist, composer and educator. He was especially known for embracing World Jazz and helping bring many new fans into the music.

Although Lateef has not been the subject of a featured piece on the GMC, in 2008 we reviewed a reissue of one of his best albums from the past. You can read that review here:

REVIEW: Yusef Lateef – Eastern Sound

I’m also posting one of the songs from that album, and a fairly recent video featuring the performer. (He would have been over 90 at the time.)

Yusef Lateef – “Don’t Blame Me”