Young was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His older brother was famed saxophonist Lester Young.
He played with such jazz and swing music notables as Mutt Carey, Fats Waller, Les Hite, Benny Goodman, and Lionel Hampton.
In the 1950s he played with Nat "King" Cole's trio.
From the 1960s on he worked as an artist & repertory man for such record labels as Vee-Jay Records and Motown Records.