Gerald Albright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerald Albright
Background information
Genres	Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Funk, Disco, R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Saxophone, bass guitar, keyboards, flute
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Atlantic/WEA, GRP, Peak, Heads Up, Concord, Bright Music
Associated acts	Dave Koz Mindi Abair Richard Elliot

Gerald Albright is a famous American jazz saxophonist. He is known for his smooth jazz sound. He has won several awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award nine times. He earned Grammy nominations for his albums New Beginnings in 2008 and Sax for Stax in 2009. Later, he was nominated for 24/7 in 2012 and Slam Dunk in 2014.

About Gerald Albright

Gerald Albright started playing music at a young age. He first took piano lessons, but he wasn't very interested. His love for music grew when he received a saxophone that belonged to his piano teacher. This love became even stronger when he attended Locke High School.

After high school, he went to the University of Redlands. There, he studied business management with a focus on music. He later switched to playing the bass guitar after seeing a concert by the famous bassist Louis Johnson.

Early Career and Tours

In the 1980s, after college, Albright worked as a studio musician. This means he played instruments for other artists' recordings. He worked with big names like Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr., Olivia Newton-John, and The Temptations.

He joined a band formed by Patrice Rushen as a saxophonist. During one tour, the bassist left, and Albright stepped in to play bass guitar for the rest of the tour! Around the same time, he also toured Europe with drummer Alphonse Mouzon.

Albright has toured with many other famous musicians. These include Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, and Teena Marie. He has also performed at many jazz clubs and festivals. He was part of "Jazz Explosion" tours, playing with artists like Will Downing and Chaka Khan.

TV Appearances and Special Events

Gerald Albright has appeared on television shows such as A Different World and Melrose Place. He has also been featured in jazz segments on Black Entertainment Television. He even piloted a show in Las Vegas with actor Meshach Taylor.

A special moment in his career was performing at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. He was one of ten saxophonists chosen for this important event. His saxophone music can also be heard in the PlayStation video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. He played on the theme song "I Am the Wind."

Musical Style and Recognition

Albright says his playing style was greatly influenced by the music he listened to as a teenager. This included a mix of gospel, Motown, and the "Philly International Sound." He was inspired by artists like James Brown and Maceo Parker.

In September 2021, Gerald Albright received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was given to him by President Joseph R. Biden.

Instruments Gerald Albright Plays

Gerald Albright plays a special kind of saxophone called a Big Bell Stone Signature Series model. It's made by Cannonball Musical Instruments. He often uses a specific part of the saxophone called the "Fat Neck." For his alto saxophone, he uses a Beechler Diamond mouthpiece. For his tenor saxophone, he uses a Theo Wanne stainless steel Shiva mouthpiece. Besides the saxophone, Albright is also skilled at playing the bass guitar.

Music Albums

Gerald Albright has released many studio albums, live albums, and EPs (Extended Plays) throughout his career. Some of his well-known studio albums include Just Between Us (1987), Bermuda Nights (1988), Smooth (1994), and Groovology (2002). He also released 24/7 with Norman Brown in 2012 and Summer Horns with Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, and Richard Elliot in 2013. His most recent EPs are G-Stream (2020) and G-Stream 2 Turn It Up (2022).

He has also been a guest musician on albums by other artists, like Pauline Wilson and Phil Collins. Many of his songs have been popular on various music charts, especially the Smooth Jazz Airplay chart.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are very important music awards given out every year. Gerald Albright has been nominated for a Grammy nine times!

See also

In Spanish: Gerald Albright para niños