Fred Wesley Jr., born on July 4, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia, is a legendary American jazz and funk trombonist. Raised in a musical family in Mobile, Alabama, his father was a high school music director and big band leader, exposing Fred early on to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. Wesley's musical journey began in his father's big band as a teenager. He further honed his skills playing trombone in the band for Ike and Tina Turner. A significant period of musical deve