Theodore "Fats" Navarro, born on September 24, 1923, in Key West, Florida, was a pioneering American jazz trumpet player renowned for his role in the development of bebop during the 1940s. Of Cuban, African, and Chinese descent, Navarro began his musical journey with piano lessons at age six, later transitioning to the trumpet at thirteen. He initially performed as a tenor saxophonist in Miami before focusing on the trumpet, playing with big bands such as Andy Kirk’s and Billy Eckstine's.

Navarro's career flourished in New York City, where he collaborated with prominent bebop musicians like Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Kenny Clarke. His improvisational style, influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, was marked by fluidity, dynamic shading, and a full, vibrant tone. Despite his talent, Navarro's career was marred by heroin addiction and health issues, including tuberculosis, which led to his untimely death at 26 on July 7, 1950, in New York City.

Navarro's legacy endures through his influential recordings, including works with Dameron and sessions with Bud Powell and Charlie Parker. His innovative approach and expressive solos left a lasting impact on future generations of trumpet players, such as Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, and Lee Morgan.