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Born in Durham, N.C., Grady Tate began singing at age four and he began playing drums at age five. For the past three decades his distinctive sound has graced literally hundreds of recordings with world-renowned artists such as Quincy Jones, Jimmy Smith, Lionel Hampton, Stan Getz, Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Della Reese, Sarah Vaughan, Michael LeGrand, Lalo Schrifin, and Andre Previn. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a degree in English literature/drama and a minor in Psychology. He taught English and Speech in Washington, DC, but his desire to pursue an acting career lead him to New York City and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.