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Kenneth Gorelick, 6 July
1956, Seattle, Washington, USA. Gorelick learned saxophone as a
child and toured Europe in 1974 with the Franklin High School band.
Two years later he played with Barry White's Love Unlimited
Orchestra in Seattle before entering the University of Washington to
study accounting. Gorelick first recorded with local funk band Cold,
Bold & Together and also backed many leading artists on their
Seattle shows. After graduation, he joined the Jeff Lorber Fusion,
recording with the jazz-rock band for Arista Records, the label
which in 1981 signed him to a solo contract. Produced by Preston
Glass and Narada Michael Walden, Duotones was a major success and it
included "Songbird", a US Top 5 hit in 1987. Like much of his other
work, it featured a flawless, melodic alto saxophone solo. By now,
Kenny G. was in demand to play solos on albums by such singers as
Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Aretha Franklin. Among the guest
artists on Silhouette was Smokey Robinson who sang "We've Saved The
Best For Last". Like its predecessor, the album sold over three
million copies worldwide.
Kenny G.'s extraordinary
success continued into the 90s. In 1992, he collaborated with
Michael Bolton's on the US Top 20 hit "Missing You Now", and
released the multi-platinum Breathless. He was also acknowledged as
fellow musician President Clinton's favourite saxophonist. The
crossover into pop is felt to be too strong by most jazz critics, as
the type of music he plays is very structured and contrived. Popular
music has at least given rise to the "great crossover debate".
Arguments aside; Kenny G. is a phenomenon, he sells albums in rock
group proportions and his popularity is consistent. His Miracles:
The Holiday Album rocketed to the top of the US pop chart,
re-igniting interest in Breathless which, by the mid-90s had sold
over 11 million copies in the USA alone and had remained at the top
of the Billboard jazz chart for well over 18 months. It was finally
toppled in October 1996 after an incredible run. The rude interloper
to this was The Moment, the new album from . . . Kenny G.
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