 He worked with Buck Clayton in Shanghai in 1934 and later worked with Benny Carter among others.From 1949 to 1954 he worked in Kid Ory's band, which was perhaps the closest to the style he preferred.In the late 1950s his work with Sidney Bechet in France made him popular there but before going to France he recorded the soundtrack of the movie "King Creole" with Elvis Presley in 1958.