Charles McPherson was born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1939 and moved to Detroit at the age of nine. While growing up in Detroit, he studied with the renowned pianist Barry Harris. McPherson began playing professionally at nineteen and, compelled by a desire to be in the heart of the jazz scene, moved to New York City in 1959. He soon joined bassist Charles Mingus’s band in 1960 and stayed with the group until 1972. During his twelve years working with Mingus, McPherson collaborated frequently with Barry Harris, Lonnie Hillyer, George Coleman and others.

McPherson has performed at concerts and festivals around the world with an array of musical groups, consisting of quartets, quintets and full orchestras. He has toured the U.S., Europe, Japan, Africa, South America and Canada with his own group, as well as with jazz greats Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Nat Adderly, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie and others.