singer was born in tulsa, oklahoma's african-american district, greenwood. he was a survivor of the tulsa race riot (also called the tulsa massacre, greenwood massacre, or the black wall street massacre), which took place on may 31 and june 1, 1921. singer grew up in greenwood where he studied violin as a child but, as a teenager, switched to clarinet and then tenor saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. from the late 1930s he began playing in local bands, including ernie fields', before joining jay mcshann's orchestra in 1943 and then moving to new york. after working in other bands, he joined oran "hot lips" page's band in 1947 and began working as a session musician with king records.