Saxophonist, arranger and composer, born in the Dominican Republic. In the U.S. from the age of six, he first performed on alto sax with the Don Joseph Quintet. After graduating from school, he played with the bands of Mugsy Spanier (1941), Bob Chester (1942), Georgie Auld (on baritone sax, 1942-45), Sam Donahue, Charlie Spivak and Charlie Barnet (1948-49). From 1950 -- on the advice of Budd Johnson -- Albam gave up playing to concentrate on free-lance arranging and composition.