Benjamin "Ben" Francis Webster was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. He is considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Known for his gruff, raspy tone on uptempo numbers and his warm, tender ballad playing, he had a profound impact on subsequent saxophonists. After a long career in the United States, notably with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, he spent the last decade of his life living and performing in Europe.