Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956), better known by his
stage name Kenny G, is a Grammy winning American
saxophonist. His fourth album,
Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986.
Kenny G's main instrument is the
soprano saxophone, but he also on occasion plays
alto and
tenor saxophone. He started playing the saxophone when he was 10 years old, in 1966. The saxophone he had as a student was a Buffet-Crampon alto saxophone. Now he plays the Selmer Mark VI Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophones.
Early life
Kenny G was born in
Seattle,
Washington,
[Kenny G Biography] to a
Jewish family 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.
Career
Kenny G's
career started with a job as a sideman for
Barry White's
Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973.
He 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 the
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.
