Kirk Whalum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirk Whalum
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Kirk Whalum in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born | July 11, 1958 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Smooth jazz, pop, R&B, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, flute |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Sony, Columbia |
| Associated acts | Jonathan Butler, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Babyface, Bob James, Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway |
Kirk Whalum (born July 11, 1958) is an American musician. He is famous for playing the saxophone in R&B and smooth jazz music. Kirk is also a talented songwriter.
He has released many popular solo albums and created music for movies. His music includes pop, R&B, and smooth jazz styles. Kirk Whalum has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and has won one!
He is part of a jazz group called BWB with trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Norman Brown. Kirk has also worked with many famous artists. These include Whitney Houston, Bob James, Jonathan Butler, and Quincy Jones. He has also collaborated with Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross, and Brian Culbertson.
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About Kirk Whalum's Life
Kirk Whalum was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He went to Melrose High School. Later, he attended Texas Southern University. There, he was a member of the well-known Ocean of Soul Marching Band.
Kirk grew up loving music. He sang in his father's church choir. His grandmother, Thelma Twigg Whalum, was a piano teacher. His two uncles, Wendell Whalum and Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum, played in jazz bands. They all helped him learn about music.
In 1994, Kirk said that his music combines four styles. These are Memphis R&B, gospel, rock, and jazz. He said the most important part of his music is the melody.
Early Performances and Collaborations
In 1986, Kirk performed at two huge concerts. These were Rendez-Vous Houston and Rendez-Vous Lyon. These concerts were put on by Jean-Michel Jarre. Kirk played a song called "Last Rendez-Vous." He played it to honor his friend, astronaut Ron McNair. Ron McNair was also a saxophonist who passed away in the Challenger disaster.
In 1993, Kirk recorded a song with R&B singer Jevetta Steele. The song was called "Love is a Losing Game."
Music for Movies and Famous Artists
Kirk Whalum has worked on music for several movies. Some of these films include The Prince of Tides, Boyz n the Hood, and The Bodyguard.
He toured with superstar Whitney Houston for over seven years. He played the saxophone solo in her hit song "I Will Always Love You." This song is one of the best-selling singles by a female artist ever. Kirk also played on many albums by Luther Vandross. He often played on Luther's covers of classic pop and R&B songs.
Awards and Recognition
Kirk Whalum has released many successful solo albums. He has also created music for movies. His musical achievements have earned him 12 Grammy nominations.
He won his first Grammy Award in 2011. This was for Best Gospel Song, called "It's What I Do." He shared this award with his friend and writer Jerry Peters and singer Lalah Hathaway.
In 2014, Kirk Whalum was honored as the first Jazz Legend. This award was given by the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2015, he joined the teaching staff at Visible Music College in Memphis. In 2018, he received a special honor. A Brass Note was placed on Historic Beale Street in his hometown of Memphis.
Kirk Whalum's Personal Life
Kirk Whalum married his wife, Rubystyne (Ruby), in 1980. They have four children. Their children are Kyle, Courtney, Kori, and Evan. Kyle is also a musician and a marathon runner.
Kirk became a Catholic in 2022. Before that, he had served as a Protestant minister for many years. He has also volunteered as a barber at a Catholic Worker house in Memphis.
Kirk Whalum's Music Albums
Studio Albums
- Floppy Disk (1985)
- And You Know That (1988)
- The Promise (1989)
- Caché (1993)
- In This Life (1995)
- Joined at the Hip w/ Bob James (1996)
- Colors (1997)
- For You (1998)
- Unconditional (2000)
- Hymns in the Garden (2001)
- The Christmas Message (2001)
- Groovin w/ BWB (Braun, Whalum, Brown) (2002)
- Into My Soul (2003)
- Kirk Whalum Performs the Babyface Songbook (2005)
- Roundtrip (2007)
- Promises Made: The Millennium Promise Jazz Project (2008)
- Everything is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway (2010)
- More of Everything is Everything – ep (2010)
- Romance Language (2011)
- Human Nature w/ BWB (Braun, Whalum, Brown) (2013)
- BWB w/ BWB (Braun, Whalum, Brown) (2016)
- #Lovecovers (2017)
- Humanite (2019)
- How Does Christmas Sound? (2021)
- Epic Cool (2024)
The Gospel According to Jazz Series – Live
- The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter I (1998)
- The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter II (2002)
- The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter III (2010)
- The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter IV" (2014)
Live Albums
- Live from the Detroit Jazz Festival 2013 (2014)
Compilation Albums
- The Best of Kirk Whalum (2002)
- Ultimate Kirk Whalum (2007)
See also
In Spanish: Kirk Whalum para niños
