Don Elliott was born on October 21, 1926 in Somerville, New Jersey. He played mellophone in his high school band and played trumpet for an army band. After study at the University of Miami he added vibraphone to his arsenal of instruments.  He recorded with Terry Gibbs and Buddy Rich before forming his own band.

From 1953 to 1960 he won the Down Beat readers poll several times for "miscellaneous instrument-mellophone." Known as the "Human Instrument", Elliott additionally performed jazz as a vocalist, trombonist,…