b. 1931, Livingston, Durham, England, d. 22 February 1971, Easington, England. Humble began playing alto saxophone as a child, becoming a professional musician in his mid-teens. In the early 50s he played in bands led by Vic Lewis, Kathy Stobart and others, working alongside Peter King. In 1953 he joined Ronnie Scott where he remained for the next few years during which he recorded extensively with Vic Feldman, Jimmy Deuchar, Tony Crombie and other leading British modernists. In 1957 he went to Germany where he began a long association with Kurt Edelhagen and, a few years later, with the Clarke-Boland Big Band with whom he made several records. In 1970 he began a stint with Phil Seamen but his health, never good owing to his lifestyle, deteriorated sharply following a mugging. A gifted player with a direct, passionate solo style, Humble was one of the outstanding alto saxophonists of his generation. His long periods in Europe kept him from attracting the international status he warranted and his early death has helped make him one of the forgotten men of UK jazz.