Wayne Shorter, born August 25, 1933, is an American jazz composer/saxophonist. Shorter, a leader on many albums, has appeared on numerous others’ albums. Many of his compositions are now standards. Shorter was born in Newark and attended Newark Arts High School. His father encouraged him to learn the saxophone when he was a teenager. His brother, Alan, became a trumpeter. Shorter graduated from New York University in 1956. He spent two years in US Army. Shorter played briefly with Horace Silver and then with Maynard Ferguson. Shorter joined Art Blakey in 1959
