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Arthur Mardigan was born February 12, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan. As early as 1942 age 19 he was playing drums with Tommy Reynolds prior to a two-year stint in the Army. After his discharge he worked extensively on the New York City jazz scene, playing and recording with George Auld, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Kai Winding, Wardell Gray and Fats Navarro.

In the 1950s he went on tour with Woody Herman and Pete Rugulo, he recorded as a leader of a sextet that included Al Cohn in 1954 for The Jazz School, recorded with Stan Getz also in 1954 and then moved back to Detroit. There he played with Jack Brokensha in 1963, returning to work with Getz near the end of his life. Drummer Art Mardigan passed away on June 6, 1977 in his hometown of Detroit.

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