Billy Higgins, born on October 11, 1936, in Los Angeles, California, was a highly influential American jazz drummer known for his work in free jazz and hard bop. He passed away on May 3, 2001, in Inglewood, California. Higgins began playing drums at the age of 12 and initially worked in rhythm-and-blues bands with artists like Amos Milburn and Bo Diddley. He gained prominence in the jazz world as a member of Ornette Coleman's groundbreaking quartet in the late 1950s, contributing to the development of the free jazz idiom.

Throughout his career, Higgins was a sought-after sideman, playing on more than 700 recordings. He collaborated with a wide array of jazz legends, including Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, and Lee Morgan. His drumming was characterized by an enthusiastic swing, precise beat, and complex interplay with soloists. Higgins's work with Blue Note Records in the 1960s solidified his reputation as one of the busiest drummers in jazz.

In 1989, Higgins co-founded The World Stage, a cultural center in Los Angeles aimed at nurturing young jazz musicians. He also taught jazz studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Despite battling liver disease in the 1990s, Higgins continued to perform after a liver transplant in 1995. He received a Jazz Master award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1997. Known for his "smiling" demeanor, Higgins left a lasting legacy in the jazz community through his performances, recordings, and mentorship.