Horace Alexander Young facts for kids

Horace Alexander Young was born on November 4, 1954. He is an American musician who plays the saxophone and flute. He is also a composer, songwriter, and author.

Horace Young has performed with many famous musicians. These include B.B. King, Bill Withers, Nancy Wilson, and Regina Belle. He has also taught music at several universities. He is now a Professor Emeritus of Music at Washington State University.

About Horace Alexander Young

Early Life and Learning Music

Horace Alexander Young grew up in Houston, Texas. He started learning music when he was eight years old. His first instrument was the piano. Later, he learned to play the flute, clarinet, and saxophone.

He studied with great teachers like Hal Tennyson and Edmund Broussard. Even though he wanted to be a journalist, music became a very important hobby. He started playing paid music jobs when he was just 13. He also played in several bands during his school years.

Horace Young continued his music studies at universities. He learned flute and saxophone from many talented instructors. He earned his music degree from Texas Southern University in 1978. Later, he completed his master's degree in music at Washington State University in 1983.

Horace Young as a Teacher

After many years of touring and recording, Horace Young became a college music professor. He taught music at different schools. These included Washington State University (from 1998-2008 and 2015-2022). He also taught at Sonoma State University and Rutgers University.

From 2008 to 2014, he taught at Texas Southern University. He also taught at Houston Community College. He was the head of the Contemporary Music Program at Santa Fe University of Art and Design from 2014 to 2017. There, he helped start a student-run record label called ARROYO RECORDS.

Horace Young is now a Professor Emeritus of Music at Washington State University. He used to teach Jazz Studies and Music Business there. He also directed the Texas Southern University Jazz Experience Big Band.

Performances and Tours

Horace Young has performed with many different artists. He has played various types of music. These include jazz, R&B, Christian music, and more. He has shared the stage with The Temptations, Anita Baker, B.B. King, and Roberta Flack.

In 1993, Horace Young led South Africa's National Symphony. This concert honored the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. It was a special event because he was the first Black American to conduct that orchestra. He also appeared in a 2005 movie about Abdullah Ibrahim.

Music Recordings

Horace Young has played on many recordings for other musicians. Some of these artists include B.B. King, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Regina Belle.

Solo Albums

In May 2008, Horace Young released his first solo album. It was called Acoustic Contemporary Jazz. The album received good reviews. It had 12 songs, including a new version of "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross.

The songs on the album include:

• "Dance With My Father"
• "Heart's Desire (In a Very Special Way)"
• "Chicken n' Waffles"
• "Joan-Cape Town Flower"
• "Find Your Love"
• "Let's Lounge"
• "Glory To His Name"
• "That Kind of Girl"
• "So Special"
• "One of a Kind"
• "Danny Boy"
• "So Special (Radio Edit Instrumental)"

As of 2024, Horace Alexander Young has played on over 237 recordings. He plays woodwind instruments, arranges music, and helps produce songs. His most recent work was on a recording called The Voice of Brubeck, Vol.1 - Song of Hope and Peace. This album was released on August 30, 2024. He wrote music for two songs and played on ten songs. This recording won a Silver Medal in the 2024 Global Music Awards.

Family Life

Horace Young was married to Phyllis Karon Gooden from 1994 to 2009. They have two children, Victoria-Pearl and Alexander Charles.

He was also married to singer Regina Belle from 1985 to 1990. They adopted a daughter named Tiy.