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EspañolGROVER WASHINGTON, JR.
(Redirected from Grover Washington Jr.)
'Grover Washington, Jr.' (December 12 1943 – December 17 1999) was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz musician. Along with John Klemmer, George Benson, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of the smooth jazz genre.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made some of the genre's most memorable hits, including "Mr. Magic", "Black Frost", and "The Best is Yet to Come". In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, including Bill Withers on "Just the Two of Us" (still in regular rotation on radio today) and Phyllis Hyman on "A Sacred Kind of Love". He is also remembered for his take on a Dave Brubeck classic, called "Take Another Five", and for his hit "Soulful Strut".
Washington was born in Buffalo, New York on December 12 1943. His mother was a church chorister, and his father was a collector of old jazz 78s and a saxophonist as well, so music was everywhere in the home. He grew up with the great jazzmen and big band leaders like Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and others like them. At the age of 8, with the desire for him to be more than he could be, Grover Sr. gave Jr. a saxophone. He practiced and sneaked into clubs to see famous Buffalo blues musicians.
Washington left Buffalo and played with a midwest group called the Four Clefs. He was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly thereafter, but this was to be to his advantage, as he met drummer Billy Cobham. Cobham, a mainstay in New York City, introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington freelanced his talents around New York City, eventually landing in Philadelphia in 1967.
Washington's big break came at the expense of another artist. Alto sax man Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Creed Taylor's Kudu Records,[1] and Washington took his place, even though he was a backup. This led to his first album, ''Inner City Blues''. He was talented, and displayed heart and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. Refreshing for his time, he made headway into the jazz mainstream.
His fifth album, 1974's ''Mister Magic'', was a commercial success, and introduced guitarist Eric Gale as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, which culminated in the signature piece for everything Washington would do from then on. 1980's ''Winelight'' was the album that defined everything Washington was about. The album was smooth, fused with R&B and easy listening feel. Washington's love of basketball, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate his first track, "Let It Flow" to Julius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album, and a main staple of radio airplay everywhere, was his great collaboration with soul artist Bill Withers, "Just The Two of Us". It was also the final step away from Motown, landing him on Elektra Records and into a new era of jazz excellence. The album went platinum in 1981, and also won Grammy Awards in 1982 for Best R&B Song ("Just The Two of Us"), and Best Jazz Fusion Performance ("Winelight"). "Winelight" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In the post-''Winelight'' era, Washington is credited (or scorned, as some may say) for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is known for bringing Kenny G to the forefront, but also credited with bringing such smooth jazz artists as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, George Howard and The Philadelphia Experiment. His song ''Mr. Magic'' is noted as being influential on Go-go music starting in the mid-1970s.[2]
On December 17 1999, while waiting in the green room after taping four songs for the ''The Early Show'', at CBS Studios in New York City, Washington collapsed. He was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 p.m. His doctors determined that he had suffered a massive heart attack. He was 56 when he died.
Washington's legacy lives on in the futures of up-and-coming jazz artists, and his life is celebrated from college campuses all around the nation to the streets of Philadelphia, his adopted hometown. Washingtons Jazz Legacy is Global and knows no barriers. He was extremely loved in Nigeria
★ 1971: ''Inner City Blues''
★ 1972: ''All the King's Horses''
★ 1973: ''Soul Box''
★ 1974: ''Mister Magic''
★ 1975: ''Feels So Good''
★ 1976: ''A Secret Place''
★ 1978: ''Live at the Bijou''
★ 1979: ''Skylarkin'
★ 1979: ''Paradise''
★ 1979: ''Reed Seed''
★ 1980: ''Winelight''
★ 1980: ''Come Morning''
★ 1981: ''Baddest''
★ 1982: ''The Best Is Yet to Come''
★ 1984: ''Inside Moves''
★ 1986: ''House Full of Love (Music from ''The Cosby Show'')''
★ 1987: ''Strawberry Moon''
★ 1988: ''Then and Now''
★ 1989: ''Time Out of Mind''
★ 1992: ''Next Exit''
★ 1994: ''All My Tomorrows''
★ 1996: ''Soulful Strut''
★ 2000: ''Aria''
'With Leon Spencer'
★ 1970: ''Sneak Preview'' (Prestige Records)
★ 1971: ''Louisiana Slim'' (Prestige)
1. www.dougpayne.com
2. Wind me up, Chuck! Jeff Chang
★ Official Web Site
'Grover Washington, Jr.' (December 12 1943 – December 17 1999) was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz musician. Along with John Klemmer, George Benson, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of the smooth jazz genre.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made some of the genre's most memorable hits, including "Mr. Magic", "Black Frost", and "The Best is Yet to Come". In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, including Bill Withers on "Just the Two of Us" (still in regular rotation on radio today) and Phyllis Hyman on "A Sacred Kind of Love". He is also remembered for his take on a Dave Brubeck classic, called "Take Another Five", and for his hit "Soulful Strut".
| Contents |
| Birth and childhood |
| Early career |
| Becoming famous |
| Peak influence |
| Death |
| Legacy |
| Discography |
| Solo |
| With others |
| References |
| External links |
Birth and childhood
Washington was born in Buffalo, New York on December 12 1943. His mother was a church chorister, and his father was a collector of old jazz 78s and a saxophonist as well, so music was everywhere in the home. He grew up with the great jazzmen and big band leaders like Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and others like them. At the age of 8, with the desire for him to be more than he could be, Grover Sr. gave Jr. a saxophone. He practiced and sneaked into clubs to see famous Buffalo blues musicians.
Early career
Washington left Buffalo and played with a midwest group called the Four Clefs. He was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly thereafter, but this was to be to his advantage, as he met drummer Billy Cobham. Cobham, a mainstay in New York City, introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington freelanced his talents around New York City, eventually landing in Philadelphia in 1967.
Washington's big break came at the expense of another artist. Alto sax man Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Creed Taylor's Kudu Records,[1] and Washington took his place, even though he was a backup. This led to his first album, ''Inner City Blues''. He was talented, and displayed heart and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. Refreshing for his time, he made headway into the jazz mainstream.
Becoming famous
His fifth album, 1974's ''Mister Magic'', was a commercial success, and introduced guitarist Eric Gale as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, which culminated in the signature piece for everything Washington would do from then on. 1980's ''Winelight'' was the album that defined everything Washington was about. The album was smooth, fused with R&B and easy listening feel. Washington's love of basketball, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate his first track, "Let It Flow" to Julius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album, and a main staple of radio airplay everywhere, was his great collaboration with soul artist Bill Withers, "Just The Two of Us". It was also the final step away from Motown, landing him on Elektra Records and into a new era of jazz excellence. The album went platinum in 1981, and also won Grammy Awards in 1982 for Best R&B Song ("Just The Two of Us"), and Best Jazz Fusion Performance ("Winelight"). "Winelight" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Peak influence
In the post-''Winelight'' era, Washington is credited (or scorned, as some may say) for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is known for bringing Kenny G to the forefront, but also credited with bringing such smooth jazz artists as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, George Howard and The Philadelphia Experiment. His song ''Mr. Magic'' is noted as being influential on Go-go music starting in the mid-1970s.[2]
Death
On December 17 1999, while waiting in the green room after taping four songs for the ''The Early Show'', at CBS Studios in New York City, Washington collapsed. He was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 p.m. His doctors determined that he had suffered a massive heart attack. He was 56 when he died.
Legacy
Washington's legacy lives on in the futures of up-and-coming jazz artists, and his life is celebrated from college campuses all around the nation to the streets of Philadelphia, his adopted hometown. Washingtons Jazz Legacy is Global and knows no barriers. He was extremely loved in Nigeria
Discography
Solo
★ 1971: ''Inner City Blues''
★ 1972: ''All the King's Horses''
★ 1973: ''Soul Box''
★ 1974: ''Mister Magic''
★ 1975: ''Feels So Good''
★ 1976: ''A Secret Place''
★ 1978: ''Live at the Bijou''
★ 1979: ''Skylarkin'
★ 1979: ''Paradise''
★ 1979: ''Reed Seed''
★ 1980: ''Winelight''
★ 1980: ''Come Morning''
★ 1981: ''Baddest''
★ 1982: ''The Best Is Yet to Come''
★ 1984: ''Inside Moves''
★ 1986: ''House Full of Love (Music from ''The Cosby Show'')''
★ 1987: ''Strawberry Moon''
★ 1988: ''Then and Now''
★ 1989: ''Time Out of Mind''
★ 1992: ''Next Exit''
★ 1994: ''All My Tomorrows''
★ 1996: ''Soulful Strut''
★ 2000: ''Aria''
With others
'With Leon Spencer'
★ 1970: ''Sneak Preview'' (Prestige Records)
★ 1971: ''Louisiana Slim'' (Prestige)
References
1. www.dougpayne.com
2. Wind me up, Chuck! Jeff Chang
External links
★ Official Web Site
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