b. Lyle F. Dedrick, 7 December 1918, Delevan, New York, USA. Dedrick completed teacher training at Fredonia (New York) College before studying composition with Paul Geston and Stefan Wolpe. He started his professional career as a trumpeter in the band of Dick Stabile before moving on to Red Norvo, Claude Thornhill and Ray McKinley. He worked throughout the 50s and 60s as a trumpet player and arranger for NBC Television and in New York studios. In 1971 he joined the faculty of the Manhattan College of Music, in which he later became director of jazz studies. He plays and writes in a traditional swing style.