Collection: Wilbur Harden

Wilbur Harden was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer best remembered for his recordings with saxophonists Yusef Lateef and John Coltrane, and with trombonist Curtis Fuller. Born December 31, 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama, he was one of the earliest jazz trumpeters to double on flugelhorn. He began his career with Roy Brown and Ivory Joe Hunter, before moving to Detroit in 1957 to play with Yusef Lateef's quintet.

In 1958, Harden led four record dates for Savoy Records, three of which featured John Coltrane. These sessions captured a crucial moment in jazz history, though after Coltrane's rise to fame in the 1960s, these albums were reissued with Coltrane's name given equal or greater prominence than Harden's. In late 1958, Harden fell seriously ill, spending four years under medical care. His last recording session took place in 1960 with Curtis Fuller's group, following a brief release from hospital. His music career ended at age 35 due to health problems. He died on June 10, 1969 in New York City at age 44 and was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991.