- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDavid William Sanborn
- David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist.
Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school.
One of the most commercially successful American saxophonists to earn prominence since the 1980s, Sanborn is described as "the most influential saxophonist on pop, R&B, and crossover players of the past 20 years." He is often identified with radio-friendly smooth jazz, but he has expressed a disinclination for the genre and his association with it.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
- SpouseAlice Soyer Sanborn(? - May 12, 2024) (his death, 1 child)
- Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).
- He contracted polio in his youth, and he began playing saxophone on a physician's advice to strengthen his weakened chest muscles and improve his breathing, instead of studying piano.
- He was active as a session musician, playing on several albums by various artists.
- According to an April 1988 interview published in the jazz magazine DownBeat, he had a preference for Selmer Mark VI alto saxophones in the 140,000-150,000 serial number range, all produced in 1967.
- He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but had been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school and was a session musician long before its release.
- [on the recipe for becoming a successful musician] I think I just kind of put one foot in front of the other and wasn't discouraged by setbacks. There are an awful lot of musicians out there. It's about hanging in there, working hard, and being ready for a break, when and if it occurs. That's really all you can do. Work hard and hope you get lucky.
- [on being asked to describe how music has evolved over his musical career] I'm probably the worst person to judge that. I am not aware of the incremental changes. It's just like getting older: you don't see it yourself because you see yourself every day. You are not as aware of the process as someone looking at it from the outside who may only see you occasionally.
- [on participating in a wide variety of musical venues] I really enjoy jumping around like that. I think it keeps you fresh and prevents you from getting locked into doing things one way. It gives you an understanding that music is a continuum; there's no separation with pop music over here and jazz over there.
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