Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Stubblefield launched his career in Chicago, where he joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, a free-jazz collective.

After moving to New York in 1971, Stubblefield played with the bands of Mary Lou Williams, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and others. He formed his own group in 1980 and released ten albums, ending with Morning Song in 1993. In recent years, he appeared frequently with the Mingus Big Band.

Saint Peter's Church is located at East 54th Street and Lexington Avenue.