In a recording career that spans almost three decades and 23 albums, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop and Latin to a jazz foundation solidifying his reputation as the premiere artist in contemporary adult pop music. Since the early ’80s, his combination of unparalleled instrumental chops and indelible melodies has resulted in sales of more than 75 million records worldwide and more than a dozen climbs to the top of Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart. Kenny G’s success as a pop artist skyrocketed in 1982 when he landed a record deal with Arista and launched a solo career with three critically acclaimed jazz albums – Kenny G (1982), G-Force (1983) and Gravity (1985).
By the ‘90s, he was a multi-platinum seller and a frequent collaborator with some of the most iconic figures in American popular music, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Frank Sinatra. His subsequent studio albums, Silhouette (1988) and Breathless (1992), were hugely successful, the latter selling more than 12 million records in the U.S. Alone and spawning the Grammy-winning single, “Forever in Love.” Other career highlights include Miracles, a 1994 holiday album that took him to the top of the Billboard chart for the first time and has since become the best-selling holiday album of all time.
His two holiday albums since then – Faith in 1999 and Wishes in 2002 – have been similarly successful. At LastThe Duets Album, released in 2004, featured performances by Barbara Streisand, Burt Bacharach and LeAnn Rimes, along with a remake of Outkast’s “The Way You Move” with Earth, Wind and Fire. Find out more about Kenny G at.
American jazz saxophonist performing under the pseudonym Kenny G (the real name Kenneth Gorelick) was born in 1956 in Seattle. When he was a teenager, he understood what he would like to do in the future and that it was music that would become his destiny. Kenny G’s first saxophone was presented to him by his mother and the musician still keeps that instrument. Kenny G entered the University of Washington, where he studied accounting. His father insisted that he should continue the family business; however Kenny G had the other point of view and remained faithful to the music. In 1982 the talented saxophonist was noticed and he was offered a contract with the record company. The same year his debut album titled Kenny G (1982) was released.
The second studio work G-Force was issued in 1983 and it was followed by Gravity (1985). They were well received by the music lovers and Kenny G’s music was very called-for: both albums were certified Platinum. The fourth album Duotones, which included the famous composition Songbird, got the 5x Platinum status. The musician was gaining popularity, feeling that he was moving in the right direction.
Thus the album of 1988 Silhouette peaked at number one in the Jazz Albums Chart. There is no doubt that such songs as Silhouette and We've Saved The Best For Last contributed to its success. In 1989 the saxophonist released his first live album titled Kenny G Live, which reproduces the atmosphere of his concerts just perfectly. 1992 was incredibly favorable for Kenny G and his album Breathless, which became the world’s most successful instrumental album ever. The musician won his first Grammy Award for the composition Forever In Love, while the very album was certified Platinum fifteen times. Will there be a maze runner 4.
Breathless brought the real fame and respect to Kenny G, however his following album Moment (1996) was less successful in comparison to Breathless. While working on Moment, Kenny G collaborated with Babyface and Toni Braxton and he was very satisfied with the result. The songs That Somebody Was You and Everytime I Close My Eyes turned out to be very strong and were performed in Kenny G’s original style. In 1997 the musician was included into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest saxophone performance: his record made up 45 minutes and 47 seconds. In 1999 Kenny G released the album of cover-versions titled Classics In The Key Of G, which included such brilliant classical songs as Summertime and What A Wonderful World.
In the new millennium the musician kept on creating strong albums, among which are Paradise (2002), two cover-version albums At Last.The Duets Album (2004) and I'm In The Mood For Love.The Most Romantic Melodies Of All Time (2006). The latter included the famous romantic song Besame Mucho. In 2010 Kenny G issued his new studio work Heart & Soul. The composition No Place Like Home from that album was recorded with his old friend – Babyface. Heart & Soul is the traditionally strong album with Kenny G’s original sound that can hardly be mixed up with someone else’s. There is absolutely no doubt that Heart & Soul will be enjoyed by all the good music lovers.
Anyway, Heart & Soul is the right album to start the acquaintance with the legendary saxophonist’s music.