About Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , known professionally as Kenny G, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and producer. His 1986 album Duotones brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records.
Kenny G was born in Seattle, Washington and started playing the saxophone aged 10, inspired by a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He attended several schools in Seattle, including the University of Washington. During high school, he took private saxophone lessons and played in the school jazz band.
Kenny G's professional career began with Barry White's The Love Unlimited Orchestra at age 17. He played with the Seattle funk band Cold, Bold & Together before joining the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980. His solo career took off after signing with Arista Records in 1982. His debut album, Kenny G, was recorded with members of the Jeff Lorber Fusion and released in 1982. Kenny G's fourth solo album, Duotones , marked the start of his most commercially successful period, featuring the hit single "Songbird". His 1992 album, Breathless, became the best-selling instrumental album ever, and his first holiday album, Miracles: The Holiday Album, sold over 13 million copies. He has worked on soundtracks for films such as The Bodyguard and collaborated with artists, including Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Kenny G released several albums, including Paradise and Brazilian Nights. He made appearances in commercials and music videos and continued to perform worldwide. Kenny G's popularity in China is notable, with his song "Going Home" widely used in public places. Despite facing criticism from some jazz musicians, Kenny G remains a highly successful and influential figure in contemporary instrumental music.
Kenny G was born in Seattle, Washington to a Jewish family. His mother was a Canadian Jew from Saskatchewan. He came into contact with the saxophone when he heard a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He started playing the saxophone, a Buffet Crampon alto, in 1966 when he was 10 years old.
Kenny G attended Whitworth Elementary School, Sharples Junior High School , Franklin High School, and the University of Washington, all in his home city of Seattle. When he entered high school, he failed at his first attempt to get into the jazz band but auditioned again the following year and earned first chair. His Franklin High School classmate Robert Damper plays in his band. In addition to his studies while in high school, he took private lessons on the saxophone and clarinet from Johnny Jessen, once a week for a year.
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