McKinley Howard "Kenny" Dorham (1924–1972) was a jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer. Dorham began developing is arranging skills at Wiley College, where he studied science while performing in the dance band. He continued performing after his service in World War II, and by 1946 got his first major gig as a trumpet player in Dizzy Gillespie's band. Dorham made his mark as an arranger as well, arranging charts for Lucky Millander, Benny Carter, Cootie Williams, and ghosting arrangements for Gil Fuller.

Dorham's soft, lyrical style and his minimalist approach made him a first-call replacement in jazz circles, and he played with the big bands of Billy Eckstine, Mercer Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton and Charlie Parker. A founding member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Dorham also recorded with Paul Chambers, Eric Dophy, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Oliver Nelson, Bud Powell, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Art Taylor and Cedar Walton. His own group, the Jazz Prophets, featured Joe Henderson, Sam Jones, Kenny Burrell, J.R. Monterose and Bobby Timmons. Dorham recorded Afro-Cuban - what many believe was his greatest album - for Blue Note in 1955. The album combines Latin music with jazz, and highlights Dorham's compositional and arranging skills. It also features serious star power: Hank Mobley, Cecil Payne, J.J. Johnson, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Percy Heath and Oscar Pettiford.

His friendship with Joe Henderson led to many other collaborations, including Henderson's album, In 'n Out. Dorham composed the jazz standard "Blue Bossa," which first appeared on Joe Henderson's album Page One. Dorham's Una Mas was Henderson s first recording session. Dorham was frequently working with musicians over ten years his junior, and becoming more intense and adventurous. Some of his best compositions include: "Short Story", "Escapade", "Lotus Blossom", "Straight Ahead", "Sao Palo", "Pedro’s Time", "The Fox", "Sunset", "Sunrise in Mexico", "La Mesha", "Philly Twist", and "Whistle Stop".

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dorham began writing reviews for DownBeat Magazine. He also studied music at New York University, consulted for the Harlem Youth Act anti-poverty program, and served on the board of the of the New York Neophonic Orchestra. He died at the young age of 48.