Tate studeer 1955 bit 1959 an de North Carolina Central University engelsch Literatur un Psychologie. He geev Engelsch- un Spreekünnerricht in Washington (D.C.) un studeer af 1963 an de American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He hett as Slagtüüchspeler Künstler as Quincy Jones, Jimmy Smith, Lionel Hampton, Stan Getz, Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Della Reese, Sarah Vaughan, Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Charles Aznavour un Andre Previn begleit. 1976 wark he an dat eerst Album vun Jiggs Whigham, Hope mit Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen mit. 1973 un 1979 wurr he as Best Male Pop Vocalist för den Grammy nomineert. Siet 1989 ünnerricht he an de Howard University.
Tate hörrt neben Billy Higgins, Steve Gadd un Peter Erskine to de an’ meesten upnommen Slagtüüchspeler. De Tall vun LPs oder CDs, an de he mitwarkt hett, sall woll so um un bi 700 liggen. Bekannt is he in de Apenlichkeit aber meest nicht, wat doran liggt, dat he ganz faken as Studiomusiker arbeit hett. Bi sien Kollegen aber, t.B. Peter Erskine is he bannig good ansehn.
För Kenner vun dat Slagtüüchspeel is he glieks an sien Arbeit up de Snare Drum weer tokennen.
Oliver Nelson: More Blues And The Abstract Truth 1964
Oliver Nelson: Sound Pieces 1966
New York Jazz Quartet: Blues For Sarka 1978
Duke Pearson: The Right Touch 1967
Oscar Peterson: The Silent Partner 1979
Jerome Richardson: Groove Merchant 1967
Lalo Schifrin: The Dissection and reconstruction of music from the past as performed by the inmates of Lalo Schifrin's demented ensemble as a tribute to the memory of the Marquis de Sade 1966
Lalo Schifrin: Jazz Meets The Symphony 1992
Lalo Schifrin: More Jazz Meets the Symphony 1993
Lalo Schifrin: Firebird: Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 3 1995
Lalo Schifrin: Return of the Marquis de Sade 2002
Lalo Schifrin: Ins and Outs/Lalo Live at the Blue Note 2003
Shirley Scott: Roll 'em 1966
Zoot Sims: Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers 1975
Zoot Sims: Zoot Plays Soprano 1976
Jimmy Smith: The Cat 1964
Jimmy Smith: Christmas Cookin' 1964
Jimmy Smith: Organ Grinder Swing 1965
Jimmy Smith: Got My Mojo Workin'/Hoochie Coochie Man 1965/1966