1909
Ben Webster is born in Kansas City. He learns the violin and plays the piano for the silent movies when young. Only later does he pick up the saxophone, is largely self taught but learns much whilst playing with Lester Young's family band in 1930.

1940
Having played briefly for Ellington in 1935, he joins his band as a full time member, and is Ellington's first star on the tenor saxophone. He is a success and energizes the saxophone section, but his stay with Ellington is curtailed in 1943 when, after a dispute, Webster cuts up one of the Duke's best suits in to small pieces.

1931
Webster joins Bennie Moten's band in Kansas City, and becomes a main soloist. Through the 1930s he plays in a succession of top bands, including those of Andy Kirk, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway and Teddy Wilson.

1944
Webster becomes a jobbing musician, occassionally leading his own group. He rejoins Ellington in 1948 for a brief spell.

1950s-1960s
Webster settles on the West Coast to be near his family, moves to New York in the late-1950s and emigrates to Copenhagen in 1964. He tours Europe regularly - sometimes in a good mood, sometimes not - until his death in 1973.