Grover Washington Jr. was a legendary American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist, renowned for his adept skills and his contributions to the smoother, more urban side of jazz music. Born on December 12, 1943, in Buffalo, New York, Washington's mother was a church organist, and his father a saxophonist, fostering a rich musical environment that influenced him from a young age. He first picked up the saxophone at the age of eight, and by the time he was in his teens, he was playing professionally with various groups.

Washington's breakthrough came with his album "Inner City Blues" in 1971, which displayed his unique blend of jazz, R&B, and pop. However, it was his 1975 release, "Mister Magic," that truly catapulted him to the forefront of jazz fusion. This success was followed by the Grammy Award-winning 1980 album "Winelight," which featured the chart-topping hit "Just the Two of Us" with soul singer Bill Withers, a track that has since become a standard. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he continued to shape the sound of contemporary jazz with his silky smooth playing style, also reflected in his work with the younger generation of hip-hop artists who sampled his music, cementing his legacy in both jazz and wider musical culture.

Washington remained an influential figure in jazz until his untimely death on December 17, 1999, from a heart attack after performing on the CBS television program "The Saturday Early Show." His vast legacy is captured in a collection of live performances, compilations, and remasters of his work, such as "Grover Live," a dynamic recording that showcases the energy of his live performances, and "The Essential Grover Washington, Jr.: The Columbia Years," which pays homage to his time with Columbia Records, further immortalizing the smooth, sophisticated sounds of one of jazz's great saxophonists.

Genres

Soul Jazz

Related Artists

George Benson

David Sanborn

Dave Koz

Earl Klugh

Bob James

Kenny G

Boney James

Najee

Kirk Whalum

Ronnie Laws

Luther Vandross

Herbie Hancock

Latest Release

ʝυѕт тнє тωσ σƒ υѕ (Grover Washington, Jr. Remix)

Grover Washington, Jr.

Single - Released February 14, 2022