Noted for his rich, resonant tone and metronomic precision, Al McKibbon was one of the premier bassists of the early bebop era, supporting giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, and Thelonious Monk in addition to collaborating with percussionist Chano Pozo to forge the sound of Afro-Cuban jazz.

Born January 1, 1919, in Chicago, McKibbon was the son of a minister who played tuba and guitar, often with Al's mother on piano accompaniment.