Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz  upright bassist, composer, bandleader, pianist, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation,   he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history, with a career spanning three decades and collaborations with other jazz greats such as Duke Ellington,Charlie Parker, Max Roach, and Eric Dolphy.

One notable graduate pictured in the book is Robert V. "Val" Edwards, who would go on to become a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, where he served as department chair for many years.