Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 - April 25, 1990) was an American tenor saxophone musician. He is considered the first important bebop tenor player. From 1940 to 1980, he played with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton, Tadd Dameron, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong and Billy Eckstine.
He was particularly noted for his titanic saxophone duels with fellow tenorman Wardell Gray, a popular live attraction that also produced several albums between 1947 and 1952.
He was composer, musician, and actor in the play The Connection in 1960. After that, he spent 15 years playing and living in Europe.
In 1986, he starred in the movie 'Round Midnight, in which he played the role of a musician much like himself. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame and was voted musician of the year by Downbeat magazine in 1978 and 1980.
