Claude Lakey, a Texas native, was known as a top alto saxophonist and one of the country's top swingsters. Along with being a saxophonist, Lakey was a trumpeter and an arranger. He played with several famous musicians and band leaders such as Joe Rivet, Orrin Tucker, Ben Young, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Frankie Laine, Bobby Sherwood, and Gene Krupa.

During World War II, Lakey served in the U.S. Army, he was a member of several bands.

In 1947, Lakey enrolled at North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas) for the college's inaugural year of the first jazz degree program offered in the world. In 1949, Lakey became the first conductor of the Laboratory Dance Band (later known as the One O'Clock Band) when he was a student. A request from Gene Hall, the jazz program’s founding director.

In 1963, Claude founded Claude Lakey Mouthpieces, Inc., a maker of woodwind mouthpieces. In 1990, he sold the company to Nicholas D. Bogden. The company is now called Claude Lakey Woodwinds, located in Seattle, Washington.