A giant presence in jazz for over a half-century, double-bassist Ray Brown--known for his swinging lines and steady timekeeping--helped define the modern jazz rhythm section. Inspired by the sliding melodic runs of Ellington sideman Jimmy Blanton, Ray perfected his technique in jazz clubs in and around his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was still in high school. He eventually landed in New York City's jazz mecca, 52nd Street, where he secured a spot in Dizzy Gillespie’s band, staying with the trumpeter from 1946 to 1951. By 1952, Brown and the core rhythm section of Gillespie’s band had formed an early version of the Modern Jazz Quartet. But it was with the Oscar Peterson’s Trio, with whom he soldiered on until the mid-‘60s, that he scored his biggest success. By the late-‘60s, Brown had settled in Los Angeles, where he composed music for films and television shows. He continued to perform and refine his bass playing style until his death in 2002.