David Sanborn, a saxophonist who won a Grammy and played with Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie, among other big names in classic rock, has died at the age of 78.
In an Instagram post, he said that he had died on Sunday after a long battle with prostate cancer.
“It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6-time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn,” the statement said.
Since 2018, Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer, but he had been able to keep up with his normal concert schedule until recently. In fact, he already had concerts planned out until 2025.
David Sanborn was one of the most important people in modern jazz and pop music. “He brought the sax back into rock ‘n’ roll,” some have said.
Alice Soyer, the musician’s beloved wife, will miss him very much.
David learned to play the saxophone after getting polio when he was three years old, according to his official bio.
“Little did the doctors know that it would become a path that I have been able to follow for the rest of my life,” David said at a raise in March.
“Music has helped me in every way: spiritually, creatively, emotionally.” It lets you in through doors you didn’t know were there.
Putting together music
David Sandborn was born in Florida in 1945. By the time he was 14, he was playing with blues greats like Albert King and Little Milton.
He played at Woodstock with Paul Butterfield when he was an adult.
David also went on tour with Stevie Wonder and recorded for its album, Talking Book.
After that, he played with The Rolling Stones and went on tour with David Bowie, where he recorded the famous sax solo for “Young Americans.”
David also had a successful career on TV.
He played in the band for Saturday Night Live in 1980 and often joined Paul Shaffer’s band on Late Night with David Letterman.
Because he knew Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, he was able to host the show Night Music (also called Sunday Night), which ran from 1988 to 1990.
Michaels oversaw the making of the show.
David also hosted the TV special After New Year’s Eve on ABC and the syndicated radio show The Jazz Show with David Sanborn.
IN USE UNTIL THE END
The famous musician was still running his own podcast show called As We Speak, which had guests like Sonny Rollins, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and more.
David was given an award for his lifetime of work in jazz music in March.
At the time, he said, “I’m so glad I’m still alive to receive this.”
“I am deeply grateful and amazingly honored to receive this award in my hometown of St. Louis.”
“Music has kept my life going,” he said. “In fact, it kept me alive in every way.”
“Music moved me.” I was sure that music would be a part of everything I did.
