mick laBriola

Odean Pope (born October 24, 1938) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Pope was born in Ninety Six, South Carolina to musical parents and moved to North Philadelphia at the age of 10, where he learned from Ray Bryant. His talent at the Granoff School of Music and Benjamin Franklin High School caught the attention of fellow North Philadelphia resident and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, who offered him his first job in music at age 17. Coltrane had called Pope to inform him that he was leaving to join Miles Davis and asked him to take his place and play with Jimmy Smith. Pope hesitated, expressing his youth and doubt, to which Coltrane responded, “Never say that. Always say you CAN do something.