Howard McGhee was born on March 6, 1918, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. As one of the pioneering bebop trumpeters, McGhee was known for his fast fingering and high notes, alongside contemporaries like Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Navarro. Initially playing clarinet and tenor saxophone, he switched to the trumpet at the age of 17. His early career saw him performing with notable bands led by Lionel Hampton, Andy Kirk, Count Basie, and Charlie Barnet.

McGhee was a significant figure in the bebop movement, participating in legendary sessions at Minton’s Playhouse and Monroe’s Uptown House. He collaborated with Charlie Parker in the mid-1940s, contributing to the bebop scene in Los Angeles before racial prejudice forced him to leave California. Despite drug-related setbacks in the 1950s, McGhee made a comeback in the 1960s, performing in George Wein productions and teaching music in New York.

Throughout his career, McGhee recorded prolifically, with notable sessions for labels like Dial, Savoy, and Bethlehem. His influence extended to younger musicians, including Fats Navarro, who in turn influenced future generations of trumpeters. McGhee passed away on July 17, 1987, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in the development of bebop jazz.