Educaed at Howard University, Mr. Golson betgan his jazz career in Philadelphia, his home, later shifting his activities to New York City where he began to gain fame as a saxophonist with such bands as Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Earl Bostic, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodmann, The Farmer/Eolson Jazztet and even his own group.

He moved to Hollywood for a few years at which time he wrote scores for *M*A*S*H*, "Mission Impossible", "Room 222", "The Partridge", "Mannix", Daxid Janssen's feature fil, "Where It's At", Music for The Academy Awards, "Run For Your Life", "Mod Squad", "The Karen Valentine Show", pilots for ABC, NBC, CBS and specials for BBC in London as well as feature films in Paris, France and Munich, Germany.

His writing chores has included writing music for Diana Ross, Connie Francis, Eartha Kitt, Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Mama Cass Elliot, Percy Faith, Carmen MacRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mickey Rooney, Oscar Peterson, Sammy Davis Jr., Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Miles Davis, John Byner, George Shearing, Dinah Washington, Quincy Jones, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and others.

Mr. Golson also writes music for national radio and television spots for some of the major advertising agencies in the country. Some of the products are: Canada Dry, Nissan, Chrysler, Doge, Cheverolet, Gillette, Heinz Foods, Mattel Toys, Texaco, Orbach's, Liquid Plummer, General Telephone, Monsanto, Carnation, Borateem, Parliament Cigarettes and others.

In 1987 The State Department sent him on a cultural tour of Southeast Asia to New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma and Singapore, after which Philip Morris International sent him on assignment to Bangkok, Thailand to write special music for the King and the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to being a lecturer at major universities, he is an international recording artist who has recorded over 30 albums under his own name and innmerable ones with other major artists. A great number of these major artists continue to eagerly record his songs, many of which have long since become Jazz standards.

During this time he wrote for the jazz big band, performed with his quartet at various times, lectured to music students, lectured to sociology students on non-music subjects, and was commissioned by Reader's Digest - Lila Wallace Foundation to write a work for Symphony Orchestra which was premiered at Lincoln Center, October of 1992. He also wrote a work for youth orchestra and Itzhak Perlman which was performed at Lincoln Center in June of 1993. 

In May of 1992, he received an honorary doctorate from William Paterson College and gave the commencement address (something not usually done by a jazz musician) to 1'500 graduating students. He, in fact, is a lecturer on music and non-music subjects. He was once honored by being asked to lecture to the faculty of National University in San Diego, California on an non-music subject.

He has been commissioned to write music for a new ballet for BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio for the 1994 / 1995 season, and in April of 1994 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship that will permit him to write a second symphony under their egis.

Mr. Golson has been a successful writer of instrumental songs that have long since acquired international status. He has recently begun collaborating, however, with the renowned singer and lyricist, Peggy Lee. They are currently preparing a variety of original songs for major internationl artists.

LECTURED, PERFORMED AND/OR GAVE CLINICS

JULLIARD SCHOOL OF MUSIC, NEW YORK CITY

EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK CITY

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

BERKLEE, SCHOOL OF MUSIC, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY

RATIONAL UNIVERSITY, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM ATERSON COLLEGE, WAYNE, NEW JERSEY

APPALACHIAN UNIVERSITY, BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, SCHOOL OF MUSIC