Ernie Wilkins played with the bands of Earl Hines, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Sy Oliver, Clark Terry and Lionel Hampton. He arranged, conducted and recorded with many of jazz music's big names.
Starting in 1980 Ernie Wilkins lived in Copenhagen and worked in Europe as a guest with various big bands, as a soloist and as guest arranger with radio bands. In August, 1980 his own orchestra "Ernie Wilkins and his Almost Big Band" had its premiere in Tivoli, Copenhagen.