jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist, was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His father was a pharmacist. Because his parents’ marriage was difficult, Lloyd often lived with different relatives while growing up. When he was nine years old he heard Charlie Parker on the radio. Soon he persuaded his uncle to get him an alto saxophone sax. Lloyd also was exposed to country blues, gospel music from the Baptist church, and Native American songs sung by his grandmother.
As a youth Lloyd studied with the pianist Phineas Newborn, who became his mentor. He had his first musical job at age twelve with Rosco Gordon's blues band (which featured the vocalist Bobby “Blue” Bland), and he also worked with blues groups led by Willie Mitchell, Howlin’ Wolf, B. B. King, Roosevelt Sykes, and Johnny Ace While in high school he learned bebop and became close friends ...
