After graduation he found a job at Macy's in New York. While he found the job unsatisfying, his roommate Jim Chapin introduced him to Jazz which was thriving in New York City and he truly enjoyed (later he would often start his classes with Miles Davis recordings.) Once the U.S. declared war, he enlisted in the US Air Corps and went into pilot training then sent to England in 1943, to the Base in Kimbolton as part of the 379th Bombardment Group (heavy).
After graduating, he found a job at Macy's in New York City. Although he wasn't satisfied with his work, his roommate Jim Chapin introduced him to jazz music, which he enjoyed and later used as inspiration for his classes. When the U.S. declared war, he joined the US Air Corps and began pilot training before being sent to England in 1943 to serve with the 379th Bombardment Group (heavy).