Paul Desmond (San Francisco, november 25, 1924 – New York City, May 30, 1977) was a jazz saxophonist andcomposer. He gained notoriety with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, in which he played Alto Saxophone from 1948 to 1967 with a small break between 1950 and 1951. Desmond also wrote the quartet's biggest hit, "Take Five", which he proceeds to a large extent to the Red Cross donated. Paul Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld, but changed his name because he found that are not appropriate for a musician. He picked up his new name Desmond from a phone book.