Navarro, "Fats" (Theodore)

American jazz trumpeter;b. Key West, Fla., Sept. 24, 1923; d. N.Y., July 7, 1950. Navarro first took up the tenor saxophone, then mastered the trumpet. He subsequently played with several groups, including those of Andy Kirk (1943-44) and Billy Eckstine (1945-46). Navarro later worked in N.Y. as a leading exponent of the BOP style. Sadly, his life and career were cut short by ill health, which was further damaged by his use of heroin.