"Kenneth
Gorelick" (born June 5, 1956), better known by his stage name "Kenny
G", is an American saxophonist whose fourth album, "Duotones",
brought him 'breakthrough success' in 1986. Kenny's main instrument is the soprano
saxophone, but he also plays the alto and tenor saxophone and the flute on
occasion.
Early life
Kenny was born in Seattle, Washington, and first came
into contact with a saxophone when he heard someone performing with one on
"The Ed Sullivan Show". He learned how to play under the direction of
local trumpeter Gerald Pfister and by practicing along with records (mostly of
Grover Washington, Jr.), trying to emulate the sounds that he was hearing. At
Franklin High School he failed to get into the jazz band when he applied,
although was accepted the following year when he tried again. He also played
for his high school golf team, a sport which he had loved ever since his older
brother, Brian Gorelick, introduced it to him when he was ten years old.. Brian
Gorelick is currently a music professor and choir conductor at Wake Forest
University.
Career
Kenneth Gorelick began his career as a musician when he
acquired his first ever professional job as saxophone soloist for Barry White's
Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973 at the age of 17, when White was impressed by
his mastery of the blues scale. Kenny was also studying for a major in
accounting at the same time. After being rejected as a music major from Central
Washington University, he went on to get a degree from University of Washington
and played with the funk band Cold, Bold & Together before becoming a
credited member of "The Jeff Lorber Fusion". He began his solo career
after his period with Lorber.
In 1982, Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo
artist, after label president Clive Davis heard his rendition of ABBA's
'Dancing Queen'. He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various
artists including Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Natalie Cole, Steve Miller
(which marked the only time he appeared on a rock and roll album), Dudley
Moore, Michael Bolton, and Aretha Franklin. Influenced by the likes of
saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. and the lyricism of Barry Manilow, his own
albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.
He received success quite early on, with both "G
Force" and "Gravity", his second and third studio albums
respectively, achieving platinum status in the United States. These sales were
topped by his fourth studio album, "Duotones", which shifted over
five million copies in the U.S. alone. His sixth studio album,
"Breathless", became the number one best selling instrumental album
ever, with over 15 million copies sold, of which 12 million were in the U.S. He
broke another record when his first holiday album, "Miracles", sold
over 13 million copies, making it the most successful Christmas album to date.
In 1997, Kenny G earned a place in the "Guinness
Book of World Records" for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone.
Kenny G held an E-flat for forty five minutes and 12 seconds in the
Hopkins-Bright Auditorium at D&R Music World in New York City. That same
year, Kenny G's song 'Havana', from his album "The Moment", was
remixed by noted DJs Todd Terry and Tony Moran and released promotionally to
dance clubs in the U.S. These mixes went to #1 on the "Billboard" Hot
Dance Club Play chart in April of 1997, giving Kenny his first (and, to date,
only) #1 on this chart.
Gorelick's 1999 single, 'What A Wonderful World' stirred
controversy among the jazz community regarding the overdubbing of Louis
Armstrong's classic recording. A common criticism was that such a revered
recording by a musician known especially for improvisation should not be
altered. Pat Metheny responded to this recording by saying, 'With this single
move, Kenny G became one of the few people on earth I can say that I really
can't use at all - as a man, for his incredible arrogance to even consider such
a thing, and as a musician, for presuming to share the stage with the single
most important figure in our music.' The 'duet' was produced by David Foster
who also recorded the Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole duet. Gorelick stated at
the time,'...I didn't want to spoil the original. I said, 'Whatever we do, if
we're not going to make it better, let's throw it away and we won't do it.' So
(Foster) guaranteed that it would be better, and I hope that we did a good job
on it.' Some columnists countered the criticisms suggesting such a recording
would bring classic jazz to a wider audience. Nevertheless, Kenny G fans
considered the live performance of this duet with Armstrong on a video taped
backdrop a 'show stopper.' Additionally, Gorelick has stated that all the
proceeds from this single go to his Kenny G Miracles Foundation which
'funnel(s) the money to charities to purchase musical instruments and to
supplement funding for the arts in schools.'
Kenny G has recorded some Chinese songs, like 'Jasmine
Flower' (???), and his music is noticeably popular in China. His recording
'Going Home' is often played at closing time at public places or the at end of
classes at schools.
As of 2003, Kenny G was named the 25th-highest selling
artist in America by the RIAA, with 48 million albums sold in the USA as of
July 31, 2006. In 1994, Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental
Composition for "Forever in Love".
On August 4, 2008, TVGuide.com announced that Kenny G
would be guest-starring and performing on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money"
tentatively scheduled to air October 8, 2008.
Personal life
Kenny G is currently married to Lyndie Benson, with whom
he has two children – Max (aged thirteen) and Noah (aged nine). They have
expressed an interest in saxophone and piano respectively.
He plays golf regularly, and has a playing handicap of +0.6.
He has participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament
seven times as of February 7, 2008, and "Golf Digest" awarded him the
position of number one musician golfer in their December rankings of Top 100 in
Music.
Kenny is also a pilot, and has been known to fly to many
events.
Kenny G is also one of the original investors in the
Starbucks coffee house chain.
He has one sister, Paula, and one brother, Brian. Brian's
son David is a musician and plays bass in the band 'Puking up Sunshine.'
Discografhy
Albums
Studio albums
"Kenny G" (1982)
"G Force" (1983)
"Gravity" (1985)
"Duotones" (1986)
"Silhouette" (1988)
"Breathless" (1992)
"The Moment" (1996)
"Paradise" (2002)
"Rhythm & Romance" (2008)
Holiday albums
"Miracles: The Holiday Album" (1994)
"Faith: A Holiday Album" (1999)
"Wishes: A Holiday Album" (2002)
Live albums
"Kenny G Live" (1989)
"Best" (2006)
Greatest hits albums
"The Very Best of Kenny G" (1994)
"Kenny G - Greatest Hits" (1997)
"Ultimate Kenny G" (2003)
"The Greatest Holiday Classics" (2005)
"The Essential Kenny G" (2006)
Compilation albums
"The Collection" (1993)
"Montage" (1993)
"In America" (2001)
"The Romance of Kenny G" (2004)
"The Holiday Collection" (2006)
Cover albums
"Classics in the Key of G" (1999)
"At Last...The Duets Album" (2004)
"I'm in the Mood for Love...The Most Romantic
Melodies of All Time" (2006)
EPs
"Six of Hearts" (1997)
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