Sonny Fortune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny Fortune
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Sonny Fortune, April 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cornelius Fortune |
| Born | May 19, 1939 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S |
| Died | October 25, 2018 (aged 79) New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, free jazz, jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, flute, clarinet |
| Years active | 1966–2018 |
| Labels | Prestige, Strata-East, Horizon, Atlantic, Blue Note |
Cornelius "Sonny" Fortune (born May 19, 1939, died October 25, 2018) was a talented American jazz musician. He was famous for playing many instruments, including different types of saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone), as well as the clarinet and flute.
About Sonny Fortune
Sonny Fortune was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In 1967, Sonny moved to New York City. There, he started playing and recording with the famous drummer Elvin Jones and his band. A year later, in 1968, he joined Mongo Santamaría's band. He also played music with singer Leon Thomas and pianist McCoy Tyner from 1971 to 1973.
In 1974, Sonny Fortune joined the band of the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. He stayed with Davis's group until the spring of 1975. You can hear Sonny's playing on several of Miles Davis's albums, including Big Fun, Get Up With It, Agharta, and Pangaea. The last two albums were recorded live in Japan.
After playing with Miles Davis, Sonny Fortune joined Nat Adderley's band. In June 1975, he started his own music group. His group recorded two albums for Horizon Records. In the 1990s, he recorded several more albums for Blue Note. Sonny also performed with many other great musicians like George Benson, Roy Ayers, and Pharoah Sanders.
Sonny Fortune passed away in October 2018 at the age of 79.
Sonny Fortune's Music
Sonny Fortune released many albums as a band leader. Here are some of his well-known works:
- 1974: Long Before Our Mothers Cried
- 1975: Awakening
- 1976: Waves of Dreams
- 1977: Serengeti Minstrel
- 1994: Four in One
- 1995: A Better Understanding
- 1996: From Now On
- 2000: In the Spirit of John Coltrane
He also played as a sideman (a supporting musician) on many albums with other artists. Some of his notable collaborations include:
- With Miles Davis: Big Fun, Get Up with It, Agharta, Pangaea
- With Elvin Jones: Elvin Jones Jazz Machine Live at Pit Inn, When I Was at Aso-Mountain
- With McCoy Tyner: Sahara, Song for My Lady
- With George Benson: Tell It Like It Is
- With Pharoah Sanders: Izipho Zam (My Gifts)
Film Appearances
Sonny Fortune also appeared in some films about jazz music:
- Elvin Jones: Jazz Machine (2008)
- Europafest: Jazz Highlights (2008)
See also
In Spanish: Sonny Fortune para niños
