A brilliant American jazz trumpeter of the hard bop era, Lee Morgan (1938–1972) rose to prominence in the late 1950s and 1960s. His virtuosic playing and soulful compositions, notably "The Sidewinder," made him a key figure in Blue Note Records' sound. Morgan's tragically short career left an indelible mark on jazz, influencing countless musicians with his fiery solos and melodic ingenuity.