Idris Muhammad was born Leo Morris on November 13, 1939 In New Orleans, Louisiana. Learning to play drums in his youth, at fifteen he played on Fats Domino’s 1956 hit “Blueberry Hill” and by sixteen he turned professional, playing primarily soul and R&B during the early sixties. In 1965 he was a member of  Lou Donaldson’s band, then went on to become the house drummer for Prestige Records from 1970-72.

As a sideman Idris would play with Johnny Griffin,