b. Iola, Kansas, USA. Wilkerson was raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where he started out in music, playing trumpet and then alto saxophone in a dance band led by his trumpet-playing father, Whitey Wilkerson. He was then aged 11 and some years later, after military service, he studied at the University of Tulsa, gaining a degree in clarinet performance. He also played lead alto with the university's jazz band. This led to recognition from DownBeat, the College Combo Award, and Wilkerson subsequently appeared at the Wichita Jazz Festival. Following a performance at a Stan Kent...