David Sanborn, the six-time Grammy-winning alto saxophonist whose work moved between jazz, R&B, rock and pop, died on May 12, 2024, at age 78. His official website said he had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018 and died in Tarrytown, New York, from complications of the disease. David Sanborn’s official site and the Associated Press reported his death.
Who was David Sanborn?
Sanborn was an American alto saxophonist, solo recording artist and in-demand session musician. His bright, forceful sound made him recognizable across musical settings, from jazz and jazz-funk to recordings by major rock and pop artists. He won six Grammy Awards and, according to his official biography, earned eight gold albums and one platinum album. His official biography and the AP obituary describe his career and honors.
What happened to David Sanborn?
Sanborn died on May 12, 2024, in Tarrytown, New York, aged 78. His official site said he had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018 and that he died after an extended battle with the disease and complications. The public statement did not provide further medical detail. David Sanborn’s official site; Associated Press.
How did Sanborn become a saxophonist?
Born in Tampa, Florida, on July 30, 1945, Sanborn grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. He contracted polio as a child; biographical accounts say a doctor recommended a wind instrument to help strengthen his breathing, and he began playing saxophone. NPR’s reported obituary and The Guardian’s obituary recount this part of his early life.
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As a young musician, he played with blues artists including Albert King and Little Milton before joining the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Sanborn performed with the band at Woodstock in 1969, an early milestone in a career that would later span recording studios, concert stages and television. AP; NPR.
What made his playing distinctive?
Sanborn’s sound carried a strong, immediate presence: it could cut through a rock arrangement or take the lead in a jazz setting. Rather than treating those contexts as mutually exclusive, he embraced music that absorbed influences across categories. In a 2017 interview with DownBeat, quoted by the AP, he said: “Jazz has always transformed and absorbed what’s around it.” He added: “Real musicians don’t have any time to spend thinking about limited categories.” Associated Press.
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Sanborn was modest about claims that he had reshaped jazz. “I don’t think I’m particularly innovative, and I’m not sure I’m even a jazz player as such,” he told the Chicago Tribune in 1989, as quoted by The Washington Post. The Washington Post.
Which recordings show the range of his career?
Solo albums
Sanborn’s first solo album was Taking Off, released in 1975. Hideaway (1980) became his breakthrough, followed by Voyeur (1981), which earned him his first Grammy. The Washington Post reported that Hideaway sold more than 500,000 copies. Official site; The Washington Post.
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His recording career included more than 20 solo albums, according to the AP. Exact totals vary among accounts because album counts can depend on what releases are included, so a single definitive number is not established. Associated Press.
Collaborations and session work
Sanborn’s alto saxophone appeared on David Bowie’s “Young Americans,” Stevie Wonder recordings and James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” His credits also extended to recordings associated with the Rolling Stones and many other artists. These sessions made him a familiar sound to listeners who might not have known his name from his solo records. AP; NPR.
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Among his best-known jazz collaborations was Double Vision, recorded with pianist Bob James. It and Sanborn’s Straight to the Heart were among the Grammy-winning records cited by the AP. James paid tribute after Sanborn’s death: “His legacy will live on through the recordings.” He also said, “Every note he played came straight from his heart, with a passionate intensity that could make an ordinary tune extraordinary.” Associated Press.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where did audiences see him on television?
Sanborn’s performing life was not confined to albums and tours. He was briefly part of the Saturday Night Live band, played regularly with Paul Shaffer’s band on Late Night with David Letterman, and co-hosted the music program Night Music with Jools Holland. The television work introduced his playing to audiences beyond jazz clubs and record collections. NPR; The Guardian.
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