David Sanborn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Sanborn
Sanborn performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name	David William Sanborn
Born	(1945-07-30)July 30, 1945 Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Died	May 12, 2024(2024-05-12) (aged 78) Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, blues rock, R&B, pop, blues
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Alto saxophone, piano
Years active	1959–2024
Labels	Verve, GRP, Rhino, Elektra, Warner Bros., Reprise

David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945 – died May 12, 2024) was a talented American alto saxophonist. He was known for mixing different music styles, especially jazz with pop and R&B in his own songs. David Sanborn started playing the saxophone even before high school. He released his first solo album, Taking Off, in 1975. Before that, he was a busy musician who played on many other artists' albums.

Many people consider Sanborn one of the most successful American saxophonists since the 1980s. A music critic named Scott Yanow even called him "the most influential saxophonist on pop, R&B, and crossover players of the past 20 years." Even though he was often linked to a style called smooth jazz, he actually didn't like that label very much.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

David Sanborn was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. When he was young, he got sick with polio, which affected his muscles. His doctor suggested he play the saxophone to help make his chest muscles stronger and improve his breathing. This is how he started his musical journey instead of learning piano. A big influence on him was Hank Crawford, a saxophonist who played in Ray Charles's band.

Sanborn went to college at Northwestern University to study music. Later, he moved to the University of Iowa, where he continued to play and learn with another saxophonist, J.R. Monterose.

David Sanborn's Amazing Career

David Sanborn started playing with famous blues musicians like Albert King and Little Milton when he was just 14 years old. He kept playing blues music when he joined The Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1967.

He recorded four albums with the Butterfield band between 1967 and 1971. He even performed with the band at the famous Woodstock Music Festival in 1969.

In 1972, Sanborn played on the song "Tuesday Heartbreak" for Stevie Wonder's album Talking Book. His saxophone playing became even more well-known in popular music after he worked with David Bowie on the album Young Americans in 1975. He also played on James Taylor's recording of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" from the album Gorilla.

In the mid-1970s, Sanborn joined the Brecker Brothers band, which was popular in the jazz fusion scene. This is where he met Michael Brecker, who influenced him a lot. With the Brecker Brothers, he recorded his first solo album, Taking Off, which is now seen as a classic jazz/funk album.

Even though many people connected Sanborn with smooth jazz, he actually studied a different style called free jazz when he was younger. In 1993, he explored this style again on an album called Diminutive Mysteries. His album Another Hand also featured musicians who played more experimental music.

In 1985, David Sanborn and singer Al Jarreau performed two concerts in Atlanta that were completely sold out.

His Many Recordings

David Sanborn was a highly sought-after musician who played on countless recordings for other artists starting in the late 1960s. He worked with many famous names, including James Brown, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, and the Eagles.

Many of his own solo albums were made with bassist and producer Marcus Miller. They first met when they were both playing in the Saturday Night Live band in the late 1970s.

Sanborn also played on the music for movies like Lethal Weapon (and its sequels) and Scrooged with Eric Clapton.

In 1991, Sanborn recorded Another Hand. This album showed his love for pure jazz music, balancing out his smooth jazz work.

In 1994, Sanborn was part of a special concert called A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who. This concert celebrated the 50th birthday of Roger Daltrey from the band The Who. He also performed in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True in 1995, a musical show to help the Children's Defense Fund.

In 2006, he was featured on a song called "Play That Funky Music" with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. Sanborn often performed at the Blue Note jazz clubs in Japan. He also played on the song "Your Party" on Ween's 2007 album La Cucaracha.

In 2010, Sanborn toured with jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Steve Gadd, playing blues and jazz music from his album Only Everything. In 2011, he toured with keyboardist George Duke and bassist Marcus Miller as a group called DMS.

Besides his main instrument, the alto saxophone, Sanborn also played other types of saxophones and sometimes keyboards or piano on his recordings.

Broadcasting and TV Appearances

David Sanborn also hosted and performed on radio, television, and online shows. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band in 1980. From the late 1980s, he was a frequent guest with Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman. He also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in the 1990s.

From 1988 to 1989, he co-hosted a late-night music TV show called Night Music with Jools Holland. On this show, Sanborn played with many famous musicians, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, and Santana.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Sanborn hosted his own radio show called The Jazz Show with David Sanborn.

He also recorded theme songs and other music for The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder.

In 2021, when live music shows were paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sanborn hosted online master classes and virtual shows called "Sanborn Sessions." He performed and interviewed artists like Marcus Miller, Sting, and Michael McDonald from his home.

Musical Instruments and Gear

David Sanborn mainly played a Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone. For a while in the early 1980s, he used Yamaha saxophones on his albums As We Speak and Backstreet.

He preferred Selmer Mark VI alto saxophones made in 1967. From the late 1970s, Sanborn used mouthpieces made by Bobby Dukoff, and later, a mouthpiece designed by Aaron Drake.

His Passing

David Sanborn passed away in Tarrytown, New York, on May 12, 2024, at the age of 78. He had been battling prostate cancer since 2018.

Awards and Special Recognitions

David Sanborn won six Grammy Awards during his career. He also had eight gold albums and one platinum album, which means his music sold millions of copies!

He won Grammy Awards in 1981, 1986, and 1988.

In 2004, David Sanborn was honored by being added to the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Selected Discography

As a Solo Artist

• This Masquerade (Warner, 2018)

Collections of His Music

• The Best of David Sanborn (Warner Bros., 1994)
• Love Songs (Warner Bros., 1995)
• Dreaming Girl (WEA, 2008)
• Then Again: The Anthology (Rhino, 2012) [2-CD]
• Anything You Want (Cherry Red, 2020) [3-CD]

As a Guest Musician

• Arif Mardin, All My Friends Are Here (NuNoise, 2010) – on "So Blue"
• Anders Wihk, Same Tree Different Fruit – on ”Thank You For The Music” (Capitol Music Group AB, 2012)

Playing with Other Artists (Selected)

Videos Featuring David Sanborn

• Love and Happiness (1986)
• The Super Session (1997) - David Sanborn & Friends
• The Super Session II (1998) - David Sanborn & Friends
• Legends: Live at Montreux 1997 (2005)
• The Legends of Jazz: Showcase (2006)
• Live at Montreux 1984 (2009)

Film and TV Appearances

As an Actor or Host

Playing Himself

As a Composer

As a Musician for Film/TV Scores

Images for kids

• 

  Sanborn performing in 2008

See also

In Spanish: David Sanborn para niños