Strong came out of the Chicago jazz scene in the early '20s, backing female vocalists who led revues such as Lottie Hightower and Helen Dewey. In the mid-'20s he left these jobs to head for the West Coast, a destination for many players in his genre during this period. The California stay was short, however, and soon Strong was back in the Windy City, immersed in the sounds of the Clifford Klarinet King Big Band in addition to several outfits organized by Carroll Dickerson between 1927 and 1929. During the '30s Strong apparently had the strength to lead his own groups prior to signing on with Zinky Cohn in 1937. A couple of years later he played in the reed section of Jimmie Noone's Big Band before the final move to Jersey City. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi