The jazz saxophonist was a film composer and member of the group “SNL”

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David Sanborn, the six-time Grammy-winning alto saxophonist who performed at Woodstock, composed the music for the Deadly weapon films, played in the SNL And Late Night with David Letterman bands and worked with everyone from Stevie Wonder to David Bowie, died Sunday afternoon, May 12, after a long battle with complicated prostate cancer. He was 78 years old.

Sanborn’s music is often described as “smooth jazz,” but he would reject that characterization, and it’s easy to see why. His catchy, iconic saxophone solo on Bowie’s “Young Americans” is anything but. Sanborn preferred the idea of ​​”putting the saxophone back into rock ‘n roll.”

Indeed, he has worked with a virtual who’s who of rock and R&B legends, including James Brown, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Elton John, Carly Simon, Linda. Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, the Eagles, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones.

In television and film, Sanborn was a member of the legendary Saturday Night Live group from 1979 to 1980 alongside another altoist – and future the Lord of the Rings composer — Howard Shore, future Late Night with David Letterman band leader Paul Shaffer on keyboards and future frequent collaborator Marcus Miller on bass.

In the late 1980s, he was a frequent guest of Shaffer’s at the Late Night with David Letterman band. He has also been interviewed several times by Letterman.

At the same time, Sanborn, Clapton and Michael Kamen composed the music for Deadly weapon 2, 3 And 4.

He also appeared, usually as a musician, in the Paul Simon film One trick pony as well as Magnum PI, Scrooged and, as himself, in the Billy Crystal film Forget Paris.

Sanborn co-hosted the syndicated show Night music from 1988 to 1990, produced by Lorne Michaels. The show featured footage of jazz legends like Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck and Billie Holiday, as well as memorable jokes and musical jams from musicians such as Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Joe Sample, Sonic Youth, Pharoah Sanders, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. more. Additionally, Sanborn hosted a syndicated radio show, The Jazz show with David Sanborn.

The musician has released 25 albums, won six Grammys and has eight gold and one platinum albums. Sanborn also played tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophone, saxello, flute and keyboards/piano.

At the age of three, he contracted polio and took up the saxophone as part of his treatment. As a teenager, he played with blues legends such as Albert King and Little Milton.

In the late 1960s he joined the Butterfield Blues Band and played the last day at Woodstock. He soon toured and recorded with Stevie Wonder and recorded for Wonder’s. talking book album. He performed with the Rolling Stones, toured and recorded with Bowie, and toured and recorded with jazz great Gil Evans. He later collaborated with Simon and James Taylor, providing the iconic sax solo on Taylor’s classic version of “How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You).”

Sanbron made his solo debut in 1975 with the album Take off, which featured the popular jazz fusion group the Brecker Brothers. Her 1979 album Hideaway became a single “Seduction” which was featured in American gigolo. He won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for the song “All I Need Is You” on the 1981 record, Voyeur.

Later albums included guest artists such as Luther Vandross, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Charlie Hayden, Wallace Roney, Kenny Barron, Christian McBride and Clapton.

The following was posted on Sanborn’s Facebook page earlier today:

It is with sad and heavy hearts that we announce the loss of internationally renowned saxophonist, 6-time Grammy Award winner, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn died Sunday afternoon, May 12, after a long battle with complicated prostate cancer.

Mr. Sanborn had suffered from prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal concert schedule until recently. In fact, he already had concerts scheduled for 2025.

David Sanborn was a leading figure in contemporary pop and jazz music. It is said that he “put the saxophone back into rock and roll.”

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