Lacy's father was a teacher who played guitar with
Arnett Cobb,
Illinois Jacquet, and
Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. His mother was a gospel singer. When Lacy was eight, he started learning piano. In his teens, he played
trumpet,
tuba, and
euphonium before switching to
trombone. He got a degree in physics from Texas Southern University. In 1979, he went to the
Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying trombone and composition. His classmates included
Branford Marsalis,
Greg Osby, and
Marvin Smith. Lacy moved to New York City in 1981. In 1986, he played with Illinois Jacquet's big band, and a couple years later he was musical director for
Art Blakey. He released his first album as a band leader in 1991 with his father on guitar. ==Discography==