Born in New York on October 31, 1907, Edgar Sampson played reeds and violin with a number of bands including Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson and Chick Webb. By the 1930s, his compositions and arrangements were sought after by the major bandleaders: Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Teddy Hill among others. His most enduring contribution to the standard jazz repertoire was Stompin'at the Savoy.