Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis began playing professionally a few months after he bought his first saxophone. Born in New York City in 1921, he worked at Clark Monroe's Uptown House before joining Cootie Williams' big band in 1942. Engagements followed with Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk and Louis Armstrong. In 1945 he formed his own small group and began an off-and-on engagement lasting several years at Minton's in New York. During this significant period in the history of jazz, both Monroe's and Minton's were regarded as testing grounds for the new bop music. Davis joined Count Basie for the first time in 1952, returning to him again in 1957 and 1965. Between these engagements he was very much responsible for popularizing the organ and tenor group, employing first Doc Bagby and then Shirley Scott as organists. He also enjoyed considerable success as co-leader with Johnny Griffin of a band featuring their two tenor saxophones.

In 1963, to the consternation of his fans and colleagues, he gave up his career as a musician and became a booking agent. Fortunately, good friends like Count Basie were able to persuade him to return, but this temporary hiatus was an experience that at least enabled him to see the music business from an entirely new standpoint. He credits Ben Webster with being his major stylistic influence. At one time, in fact, he was known as "Little Ben," but since then he has established his own definite musical identity. What the English musician Humphrey Lyttelton once termed his "slurred, insolent phrases" give to his interpretations an intensely personal character.