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EspañolKENNY G
(Redirected from Kenny G.)
'Kenneth Gorelick' (born June 5, 1956), better known by his stage name 'Kenny G', is an American saxophonist whose fourth album, ''Duotones'', brought him "breakthrough success"[1] in 1986. Kenny's main instrument is the soprano saxophone, but he also plays the alto and tenor saxophone and the flute on occasion.
Kenny was born in Seattle, Washington, and first came into contact with a saxophone when he heard someone performing with one on The Ed Sullivan Show.1 He learned how to play by practicing along with records (mostly of Grover Washington, Jr.), trying to emulate the sounds that he was hearing.1 At Franklin High School he failed to get into the jazz band when he applied,[2] although was accepted the following year when he tried again.[3] He also played for his high school golf team,3 a sport which he had loved ever since his older brother, Brian Gorelick, introduced it to him when he was ten years old.3
Kenneth Gorelick began his career as a musician when he acquired his first professional job as saxophone soloist for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1976 at the age of 20,[4] while studying for a major in accounting at the same time.[5] After he graduated from the University of Washington he played with the funk band Cold, Bold & Together5 before becoming a credited member of ''The Jeff Lorber Fusion''.4 He began his solo career after his period with Lorber.4
In 1982 Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist, after being heard by the president of the label, at that time Clive Davis.4 He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various artists including Whitney Houston,[6] Toni Braxton,[7] Natalie Cole,[8] Steve Miller[9] (which marked the only time he appeared on a rock and roll album) and Aretha Franklin.6 Influenced by the likes of Grover Washington, Jr., his own albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.
He received success quite early on, with both G Force and Gravity, his second and third studio albums respectively, achieving platinum status in the United States. These sales were topped by his fourth studio album, Duotones, which shifted over five million copies in the U.S. alone. His fifth studio album, Breathless, became the number one best selling instrumental album ever, with over 15 million copies sold, of which 12 million were in the U.S. He broke another record when his first holiday album, , sold over 13 million copies, making it the most successful Christmas album to date.5
Gorelick's 1999 single, “What A Wonderful World” stirred controversy among the jazz community regarding the overdubbing of Louis Armstrong's classic recording. A common criticism was that such a revered recording by a musician known especially for improvisation should not be altered.[10][11][12][13][14] The "duet" was produced by David Foster who also recorded the Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole duet. Gorelick stated at the time,"...I didn't want to spoil the original. I said, 'Whatever we do, if we're not going to make it better, let's throw it away and we won't do it.' So (Foster) guaranteed that it would be better, and I hope that we did a good job on it."[15] Some columnists countered the criticisms suggesting such a recording would bring classic jazz to a wider audience.[16] Nevertheless, Kenny G fans considered the live performance of this duet with Armstrong on a video taped backdrop a "show stopper."[17] Additionally, Gorelick has stated that all the proceeds from this single go to his Kenny G Miracles Foundation which "funnel(s) the money to charities to purchase musical instruments and to supplement funding for the arts in schools."[18]
As of 2003, Kenny G was named the 25th-highest selling artist in America by the RIAA, with 48 million albums sold in the USA as of July 31, 2006.[19] In 1994, Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for ''Forever in Love''.
Kenny G is currently married to wife Lyndie Benson, with whom he has two children – Max (aged thirteen) and Noah (aged nine). They have expressed an interest in saxophone and piano respectively.[20]
He plays golf regularly, and has a playing handicap of +0.6.2 He has participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament seven times as of February 7, 2007,3 and Golf Digest awarded him the position of number one musician golfer in their December rankings of Top 100 in Music.23
While Kenny G's entry into the smooth jazz market remains popular with the buying public, he was publicly criticized by two notable jazz guitarists. Many people criticize his bright sound on soprano saxophone and claim that he plays out of tune.[21]
Guitarist Pat Metheny's criticisms of Kenny G are especially well documented, as first printed on Metheny's own Web site forum in 2000, and archived on Jazz Oasis.com.21 Drawing Metheny's extreme ire was Kenny G's overdubbing of Louis Armstrong's recording of ''What a Wonderful World'', an act Metheny described as follows:
Metheny criticized G further, saying that the saxophonist had:
English guitarist Richard Thompson seconded Metheny's thoughts by writing the song "I Agree With Pat Metheny, Kenny's Talents Are Too Teeny". Among the song's pointed lyrics are:
.jpg)
In The Mood For Love (2007)
★ ''Kenny G'' (1982)
★ ''G Force'' (1983)
★ ''Gravity'' (1985)
★ ''Duotones'' (1986)
★ ''Silhouette'' (1988)
★ ''Breathless'' (1992)
★ ''The Moment'' (1996)
★ ''Paradise'' (2002)
★ '' (1994)
★ '' (1999)
★ '' (2002)
★ ''Kenny G Live'' (1989)
★ ''Best'' (2006)
★ ''The Very Best of Kenny G'' (1994)
★ ''Kenny G - Greatest Hits'' (1997)
★ ''Ultimate Kenny G'' (2003)
★ ''The Greatest Holiday Classics'' (2005)
★ ''The Essential Kenny G'' (2006)
★ ''The Collection'' (1993)
★ ''Montage'' (1993)
★ ''In America'' (2001)
★ ''The Romance of Kenny G'' (2004)
★ ''The Holiday Collection'' (2006)
★ ''Classics in the Key of G'' (1999)
★ ''At Last...The Duets Album'' (2004)
★ ''I'm in the Mood for Love...The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time'' (2006)
★ ''Six of Hearts'' (1997)
★ "Forever in Love"
★ "Going Home"
★ "One More Time" ft. Beth
★ "Sade" (live)
★ "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" ft. Leehom Wang
★ "Songbird"
★ "Sentimental"
★ "By The Time This Night Is Over"
★ "Silhouette" (Live)
★ Best selling music artists
1. Kenny G Is Still the Smooth Jazz King
2. After selling millions of records, Grammy winner Kenny G wants to conquer golf
3. Kenny G can swing with the best of them Ron Kroichick
4. Kenny G Biography
5. Kenny G Has Time on his Side
6. Kenny G Microsoft Encarta
7. The Moment - Credits
8. Everlasting - Credits
9. Living in the 20th Century - Credits
10. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15999 ''Kenny G: At Last...The Duets Album'' Mark Sabbatini, AllAboutJazz, December 30, 2004, Retrieved September 1 2007
11. http://jazz.about.com/od/albumreviews/gr/essentialkennyg.htm ''The Essential Kenny G: A Smooth Jazz CD Review'', John Matouk, AboutJazz.com, Retrieved September 1 2007
12. http://www.jazzoasis.com/methenyonkennyg.htm
13. http://www.salon.com/ent/audiofile/2005/03/16/thompson/ ''Thompson on Kenny G -- and Janet Jackson's breast'', Audiofile, Salon.com, March 16, 2005, Retrieved September 2 2007
14. '' KENNY G "Classics in the Key of G" Arista'', Mike Joyce, The Washington Post, August 27, 1999
15. ABC Good Morning America, July 9, 1999
16. ''Gee whiz, give Kenny a break.'' (Arts and Lifestyle), Shirley Maldonado, The Boston Herald, August 10, 2000
17. ''Parrotheads flock to Merriweather: Nesting with Buffett; Kenny G at Nissan, Irish at Wolf Trap.'' (Washington Weekend)(Riffs), Raymond M. Lane, The Washington Times, August 26, 1999
18. ''KENNY G PRESENTS SOME OLD FAVORITES FROM YESTERYEAR.'' (Entertainment) Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 1999
19. Top Artists
20. Mr. G Sounds Off
21. Pat Metheny on Kenny G
22. 'G Force' - Billboard Singles
23. 'Gravity' - Billboard Singles
24. 'Duotones' - Billboard Singles
25. 'Silhouette' - Billboard Singles
26. 'Kenny G Live' - Billboard Singles
27. 'Breathless' - Billboard Singles
28. 'Miracles: The Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
29. 'The Moment' - Billboard Singles
30. 'Classics in the Key of G' - Billboard Singles
31. 'Faith: A Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
32. 'Paradise' - Billboard Singles
33. 'Wishes: A Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
34. 'At Last...The Duets Album' - Billboard Singles
35. 'The Greatest Holiday Classics' - Billboard Singles
★ Kenny G's official website
★ Kenny G at Legacy Recordings
★ Kenny G at VH1.com
★ Kenny G at All Music Guide
★
'Kenneth Gorelick' (born June 5, 1956), better known by his stage name 'Kenny G', is an American saxophonist whose fourth album, ''Duotones'', brought him "breakthrough success"[1] in 1986. Kenny's main instrument is the soprano saxophone, but he also plays the alto and tenor saxophone and the flute on occasion.
Early life
Kenny was born in Seattle, Washington, and first came into contact with a saxophone when he heard someone performing with one on The Ed Sullivan Show.1 He learned how to play by practicing along with records (mostly of Grover Washington, Jr.), trying to emulate the sounds that he was hearing.1 At Franklin High School he failed to get into the jazz band when he applied,[2] although was accepted the following year when he tried again.[3] He also played for his high school golf team,3 a sport which he had loved ever since his older brother, Brian Gorelick, introduced it to him when he was ten years old.3
Career
Kenneth Gorelick began his career as a musician when he acquired his first professional job as saxophone soloist for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1976 at the age of 20,[4] while studying for a major in accounting at the same time.[5] After he graduated from the University of Washington he played with the funk band Cold, Bold & Together5 before becoming a credited member of ''The Jeff Lorber Fusion''.4 He began his solo career after his period with Lorber.4
In 1982 Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist, after being heard by the president of the label, at that time Clive Davis.4 He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various artists including Whitney Houston,[6] Toni Braxton,[7] Natalie Cole,[8] Steve Miller[9] (which marked the only time he appeared on a rock and roll album) and Aretha Franklin.6 Influenced by the likes of Grover Washington, Jr., his own albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.
He received success quite early on, with both G Force and Gravity, his second and third studio albums respectively, achieving platinum status in the United States. These sales were topped by his fourth studio album, Duotones, which shifted over five million copies in the U.S. alone. His fifth studio album, Breathless, became the number one best selling instrumental album ever, with over 15 million copies sold, of which 12 million were in the U.S. He broke another record when his first holiday album, , sold over 13 million copies, making it the most successful Christmas album to date.5
Gorelick's 1999 single, “What A Wonderful World” stirred controversy among the jazz community regarding the overdubbing of Louis Armstrong's classic recording. A common criticism was that such a revered recording by a musician known especially for improvisation should not be altered.[10][11][12][13][14] The "duet" was produced by David Foster who also recorded the Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole duet. Gorelick stated at the time,"...I didn't want to spoil the original. I said, 'Whatever we do, if we're not going to make it better, let's throw it away and we won't do it.' So (Foster) guaranteed that it would be better, and I hope that we did a good job on it."[15] Some columnists countered the criticisms suggesting such a recording would bring classic jazz to a wider audience.[16] Nevertheless, Kenny G fans considered the live performance of this duet with Armstrong on a video taped backdrop a "show stopper."[17] Additionally, Gorelick has stated that all the proceeds from this single go to his Kenny G Miracles Foundation which "funnel(s) the money to charities to purchase musical instruments and to supplement funding for the arts in schools."[18]
As of 2003, Kenny G was named the 25th-highest selling artist in America by the RIAA, with 48 million albums sold in the USA as of July 31, 2006.[19] In 1994, Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for ''Forever in Love''.
Personal life
Kenny G is currently married to wife Lyndie Benson, with whom he has two children – Max (aged thirteen) and Noah (aged nine). They have expressed an interest in saxophone and piano respectively.[20]
He plays golf regularly, and has a playing handicap of +0.6.2 He has participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament seven times as of February 7, 2007,3 and Golf Digest awarded him the position of number one musician golfer in their December rankings of Top 100 in Music.23
Musical criticism
While Kenny G's entry into the smooth jazz market remains popular with the buying public, he was publicly criticized by two notable jazz guitarists. Many people criticize his bright sound on soprano saxophone and claim that he plays out of tune.[21]
Guitarist Pat Metheny's criticisms of Kenny G are especially well documented, as first printed on Metheny's own Web site forum in 2000, and archived on Jazz Oasis.com.21 Drawing Metheny's extreme ire was Kenny G's overdubbing of Louis Armstrong's recording of ''What a Wonderful World'', an act Metheny described as follows:
Metheny criticized G further, saying that the saxophonist had:
English guitarist Richard Thompson seconded Metheny's thoughts by writing the song "I Agree With Pat Metheny, Kenny's Talents Are Too Teeny". Among the song's pointed lyrics are:
Discography
.jpg)
Albums
In The Mood For Love (2007)
Studio albums
★ ''Kenny G'' (1982)
★ ''G Force'' (1983)
★ ''Gravity'' (1985)
★ ''Duotones'' (1986)
★ ''Silhouette'' (1988)
★ ''Breathless'' (1992)
★ ''The Moment'' (1996)
★ ''Paradise'' (2002)
Holiday albums
★ '' (1994)
★ '' (1999)
★ '' (2002)
Live albums
★ ''Kenny G Live'' (1989)
★ ''Best'' (2006)
Greatest hits albums
★ ''The Very Best of Kenny G'' (1994)
★ ''Kenny G - Greatest Hits'' (1997)
★ ''Ultimate Kenny G'' (2003)
★ ''The Greatest Holiday Classics'' (2005)
★ ''The Essential Kenny G'' (2006)
Compilation albums
★ ''The Collection'' (1993)
★ ''Montage'' (1993)
★ ''In America'' (2001)
★ ''The Romance of Kenny G'' (2004)
★ ''The Holiday Collection'' (2006)
Cover albums
★ ''Classics in the Key of G'' (1999)
★ ''At Last...The Duets Album'' (2004)
★ ''I'm in the Mood for Love...The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time'' (2006)
EPs
★ ''Six of Hearts'' (1997)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop | US Adult Contemporary | US Top 40 Mainsteam | US Rhythmic Top 40 | US Adult Top 40 | US Hot Country | US Top 40 Tracks | ||
| 1984 | "Hi, How Ya Doin'?"[22] | #23 | |||||||
| 1985 | "Love on the Rise"[23] | #24 | |||||||
| 1986 | "Don't Make Me Wait for Love"[24] | #15 | #17 | #2 | |||||
| 1986 | "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"24 | #15 | |||||||
| 1987 | "Songbird"24 | #4 | #23 | #3 | |||||
| 1988 | "Silhouette"[25] | #13 | #35 | #2 | |||||
| 1989 | "Against Doctor's Orders"25 | #65 | |||||||
| 1989 | "We've Saved the Best for Last"25 | #47 | #18 | #4 | |||||
| 1989 | "Going Home"[26] | #56 | #46 | #5 | |||||
| 1992 | "Forever in Love"[27] | #18 | #73 | #1 | #18 | #33 | |||
| 1993 | "By the Time This Night is Over"27 | #25 | #37 | #1 | #29 | ||||
| 1993 | "Sentimental"27 | #72 | #27 | ||||||
| 1994 | "Even if My Heart Would Break"27 | #28 | |||||||
| 1995 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"[28] | #26 | |||||||
| 1996 | "The Moment"[29] | #63 | #62 | #16 | |||||
| 1997 | "Havana"29 | #66 | |||||||
| 1999 | "What a Wonderful World"[30] | #22 | |||||||
| 1999 | "Auld Lang Syne"[31] | #7 | #57 | #3 | #40 | #15 | #49 | #30 | |
| 2002 | "One More Time"[32] | #19 | |||||||
| 2002 | "Deck the Halls/The Twelve Days of Christmas"[33] | #26 | |||||||
| 2003 | "Auld Lang Syne [Freedom Mix]"33 | #98 | |||||||
| 2005 | "I Believe I Can Fly"[34] | #28 | |||||||
| 2005 | "The Way You Move"34 | #12 | |||||||
| 2005 | "My Favorite Things"[35] | #22 | |||||||
| 2005 | "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"35 | #15 | |||||||
| 2006 | "Jingle Bell Rock"35 | #35 | |||||||
Videography
★ "Forever in Love"
★ "Going Home"
★ "One More Time" ft. Beth
★ "Sade" (live)
★ "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" ft. Leehom Wang
★ "Songbird"
★ "Sentimental"
★ "By The Time This Night Is Over"
★ "Silhouette" (Live)
See also
★ Best selling music artists
References
1. Kenny G Is Still the Smooth Jazz King
2. After selling millions of records, Grammy winner Kenny G wants to conquer golf
3. Kenny G can swing with the best of them Ron Kroichick
4. Kenny G Biography
5. Kenny G Has Time on his Side
6. Kenny G Microsoft Encarta
7. The Moment - Credits
8. Everlasting - Credits
9. Living in the 20th Century - Credits
10. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15999 ''Kenny G: At Last...The Duets Album'' Mark Sabbatini, AllAboutJazz, December 30, 2004, Retrieved September 1 2007
11. http://jazz.about.com/od/albumreviews/gr/essentialkennyg.htm ''The Essential Kenny G: A Smooth Jazz CD Review'', John Matouk, AboutJazz.com, Retrieved September 1 2007
12. http://www.jazzoasis.com/methenyonkennyg.htm
13. http://www.salon.com/ent/audiofile/2005/03/16/thompson/ ''Thompson on Kenny G -- and Janet Jackson's breast'', Audiofile, Salon.com, March 16, 2005, Retrieved September 2 2007
14. '' KENNY G "Classics in the Key of G" Arista'', Mike Joyce, The Washington Post, August 27, 1999
15. ABC Good Morning America, July 9, 1999
16. ''Gee whiz, give Kenny a break.'' (Arts and Lifestyle), Shirley Maldonado, The Boston Herald, August 10, 2000
17. ''Parrotheads flock to Merriweather: Nesting with Buffett; Kenny G at Nissan, Irish at Wolf Trap.'' (Washington Weekend)(Riffs), Raymond M. Lane, The Washington Times, August 26, 1999
18. ''KENNY G PRESENTS SOME OLD FAVORITES FROM YESTERYEAR.'' (Entertainment) Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 1999
19. Top Artists
20. Mr. G Sounds Off
21. Pat Metheny on Kenny G
22. 'G Force' - Billboard Singles
23. 'Gravity' - Billboard Singles
24. 'Duotones' - Billboard Singles
25. 'Silhouette' - Billboard Singles
26. 'Kenny G Live' - Billboard Singles
27. 'Breathless' - Billboard Singles
28. 'Miracles: The Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
29. 'The Moment' - Billboard Singles
30. 'Classics in the Key of G' - Billboard Singles
31. 'Faith: A Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
32. 'Paradise' - Billboard Singles
33. 'Wishes: A Holiday Album' - Billboard Singles
34. 'At Last...The Duets Album' - Billboard Singles
35. 'The Greatest Holiday Classics' - Billboard Singles
External links
★ Kenny G's official website
★ Kenny G at Legacy Recordings
★ Kenny G at VH1.com
★ Kenny G at All Music Guide
★
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psst.. try this: add to faves
