Jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Wendell Harrison was born in Detroit where he attended Northwestern High School and studied with Barry Harris. He also attended the Detroit Conservatory of Music which is now known as the College for Creative Studies.  In 1960, he relocated to New York where he worked with Grant Green, Eddie Jefferson, Sun Ra, and others and together with Marcus Belgrave he toured with Hank Crawford. In 1971 he returned to Detroit where, together with Phil Ranelin and Belgrave he founded the Tribe record label, magazine, and collective centered on self-reliance as a vehicle to convey a growing black political consciousness. In 1978 he created another non-profit, Rebirth, to educate youth and the greater community about jazz through workshops and concert presentations throughout the Midwest and beyond.  He also created the WenHa, a record label and publishing company that released many of his recordings, as well as those of his wife, pianist Pamela Wise. Harrison’s many records and CDs, with a wide stylistic palate from bebop, through rhythm and blues, funk, and more avant explorations continue to be treasured and re-released in Japan and England, and he continues to mentor younger musicians and create new music to this day.