 By 1946, he was co-director of the Youth Choir at the Westminster Presbyterian Church run by Reverend Hampton B. Hawes, father of the jazz pianist.He graduated in 1947, then attended Los Angeles City College, during which time he played contemporary classical works such as Stravinsky's "L'Histoire du soldat" and, along with Jimmy Knepper and Art Farmer, performed with Roy Porter's "17 Beboppers", He went on to make eight recordings with Porter by 1949.On these early sessions, he occasionally played baritone saxophone, as well as alto saxophone, flute and soprano clarinet.