Gigi Gryce was one of the great unsung heroes of the post-bebop era of jazz in the 1950s. Born in Pensacola, Florida in 1925, Gryce initially studied as a clarinetist before switching to alto sax. Always interested in music theory, he majored in composition at Boston University, graduating in 1952.

Upon graduation, Gryce relocated to New York to pursue a career in jazz. Working as a member of the saxophone section of Lionel Hampton's band, Gryce met several colleagues whom he would go on to have strong musical relationships with, including trumpeters Clifford Brown and Art Farmer, trumpeter/arranger Quincy Jones, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland and drummer Alan Dawson.

In addition to steady work as a composer and performer, Gryce founded his own publishing company, Melotone Music, in 1955. He served as a staunch advocate and activist for composers' and musicians' rights, and actively helped his fellow musicians in maintianing credit and control over their works rather than being taken advantage of by record companies.

Always a very private person, Gryce began to withdraw from the music scene in the early 1960s, likely spurred on by frustrations over financial troubles. Converting to Islam, Gryce also shifted his attention to music education. He received a Masters degree in music education from Fordham University and spent much of the rest of his life working in under-funded public schools with largely black and Hispanic student bodies. He passed away in 1983, leaving a legacy of such frequently covered standards as "Minority," "Nica's Tempo" and "Social Call."