David Sanborn was a six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist whose smooth jazz broke through to the mainstream, with a dozen albums hitting the Billboard Top 200.
- Died: May 12, 2024 (Who else died on May 12?)
- Details of death: Died in Tarrytown, New York of prostate cancer at the age of 78.
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David Sanborn’s legacy
When David Sanborn was young, he contracted polio and was left so weak, he turned to the saxophone to help strengthen his lungs. It proved a fortuitous means of recovery. He studied music at Northwestern University and the University of Iowa, then began to make professional strides in the 1960s, when he played with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He even played the famed Woodstock music festival with the group.
In the 1970s, Sanborn recorded parts for artists like Steve Wonder (on “Tuesday Heartbreak”), David Bowie (1947–2016) (the famed “Young Americans” LP), and James Taylor (on “How Sweet It Is”), among others. However, it was his string of crossover hits in the ‘70s and ‘80s that made him an international star. Lumped into the “smooth jazz” genre – a niche Sanborn distanced himself from – his approachable, relaxing sound helped him land a dozen albums on the Billboard Top 200 and won him six Grammy Awards.
For a time, Sanborn was with the “Saturday Night Live” house band and made regular appearances with Paul Shaffer on “Late Night with David Letterman.” Major records include “Hideaway,” “Voyeur,” and “A Change of Heart.” He also composed scores for film, including the “Lethal Weapon” sequels and “Psycho III.” Other artists he played with include James Brown (1933–2006), Billy Joel, B.B. King (1925–2015), Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Chaka Khan and Ween.
Tributes to David Sanborn
Full obituary: NPR
