He was an original member of the Jazz Messengers, then joined Horace Silver's group when Silver left the Messengers. During the 1960s he worked chiefly as a leader, although he spent a brief time with Miles Davis. By the mid-1970s lung problems had forced him to retire.
He is best know for his 25 albums on Blue Note Records, recorded between 1955 and 1970, on which he performed with many of the most important hard bop players.