Kenny G

Kenny G
Born	Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (1956-06-05) June 5, 1956 Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Saxophonist, composer, record producer
Years active	1973–present
Known for	Smooth jazz saxophone performance, best-selling instrumental artist

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) is an American saxophonist renowned for his contributions to smooth jazz, as well as a composer and record producer. His breakthrough came with the 1986 release of Duotones, which marked his rise to commercial prominence. Kenny G ranks among the top-selling musicians worldwide, having sold over 75 million albums globally, establishing him as the highest-selling instrumental artist in history.

Originating from Seattle, Washington, Kenny G picked up the saxophone at the age of ten. He pursued studies at the University of Washington while also taking private lessons during his high school years and performing in his school's jazz ensemble.

His professional journey commenced at 17 when he joined Barry White's The Love Unlimited Orchestra. Subsequently, he played with Seattle’s funk group Cold, Bold & Together before becoming part of the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980. After signing with Arista Records in 1982, he released his debut album Kenny G, featuring collaborations with members of Jeff Lorber Fusion. His fourth solo project, Duotones (1986), initiated his peak commercial phase and included the successful track "Songbird." The 1992 album Breathless holds the record as the best-selling instrumental album ever, while his holiday album Miracles: The Holiday Album achieved sales exceeding 13 million copies. He has also contributed to soundtracks such as The Bodyguard and worked alongside artists like Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Kenny G continued releasing albums like Paradise and Brazilian Nights, sustained international tours, and appeared in various commercials and music videos. He enjoys notable popularity in China, where his track "Going Home" is frequently played in public spaces. Although some jazz traditionalists have criticized his style, Kenny G remains a prominent and influential figure in modern instrumental music.

Early life

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick was born into a Jewish family in Seattle, Washington. His mother was a Canadian Jew originating from Saskatchewan. Inspired by hearing the saxophone on The Ed Sullivan Show, he started playing a Buffet Crampon alto saxophone in 1966 when he was ten years old.

He attended Whitworth Elementary, then Sharples Junior High School (currently Kurose Middle School), followed by Franklin High School, and later the University of Washington, all located in Seattle. Although he initially failed to make his high school jazz band, he earned first chair the following year. Robert Damper, a fellow Franklin alumnus who played piano and keyboards, later joined Kenny’s band. During this period, he also took private lessons on saxophone and clarinet from Johnny Jessen for one year.

Early career

At just 17 years old and still attending high school, Kenny G started working as a sideman for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973. He continued performing professionally while pursuing an accounting degree at the University of Washington, graduating with honors (Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude) and becoming eligible to practice accounting after passing the CPA exam.

Performing under his full name Kenny Gorelick, he played flute and saxophones with Seattle's funk band Cold, Bold & Together between 1975 and 1976 before joining the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980. He eventually departed from that group, feeling that he had surpassed its scope.

1980s: Launch of Solo Career, Duotones, and Silhouette

In 1982, Kenny G secured a contract with Arista Records after label chief Clive Davis was impressed by his interpretation of "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. He chose the stage name Kenny G for its marketability. His first album, Kenny G, recorded in 1981 alongside members of the Jeff Lorber Fusion, was released the following year and climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. This was followed by G Force (1983) and Gravity (1985), both of which earned Platinum certification in the United States. During this era, he frequently collaborated with producer Kashif, notably on the 1985 track "Love on the Rise".

Kenny G’s breakthrough commercial success came in 1986 with the release of Duotones. This album included the instrumental hit "Songbird", inspired by his relocation from Seattle to Los Angeles. Duotones achieved sales of five million copies in the U.S., greatly enhancing his international recognition. "Songbird" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the lead single "Don't Make Me Wait for Love", featuring Lenny Williams, peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 and climbed to No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

Throughout the late 1980s, Kenny G worked alongside renowned jazz and R&B performers such as George Benson, Patti LaBelle, and Aretha Franklin. He contributed to the 1987 hit "Love Power", a duet by Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne, which attained No. 12 on the Hot 100 and No. 5 on R&B charts.

His inaugural live album, Kenny G Live, featured "Going Home", a track that gained significant popularity in the People's Republic of China. Over his career, Kenny G has collaborated with a wide array of artists including Andrea Bocelli, Aaron Neville, Toni Braxton, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Natalie Cole, Steve Miller, Weezer, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Bebel Gilberto, and Smokey Robinson. His style, heavily influenced by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., is generally categorized under smooth jazz.

1990s: Breathless, Miracles, and The Moment

During the 1990s, Kenny G contributed to numerous film soundtracks such as Dying Young and The Bodyguard. His "Theme for Dying Young" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. On The Bodyguard soundtrack, he performed "Waiting for You" and "Even If My Heart Would Break". Additionally, his music appeared in films like The Shadow and Miracle on 34th Street.

His sixth studio release, Breathless (1992), set records as the top-selling instrumental album worldwide, with over 15 million units sold globally, including 12 million in the United States alone. It featured hits such as "Forever in Love", which won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition and ranked on Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 chart. The track "Sentimental" reached No. 27 on Adult Contemporary charts, while "By the Time This Night Is Over", a duet with Peabo Bryson, peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100.

His debut holiday album, Miracles, sold more than 13 million copies, becoming one of the most successful Christmas albums ever released. In addition, he performed the U.S. National Anthem at the closing ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in Pasadena, California.

In 1997, Kenny G earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for sustaining an E-flat note on his saxophone for an extraordinary duration of 45 minutes and 47 seconds through circular breathing at J&R Music World in New York City. That same year, his track "Havana" from The Moment was remixed by Todd Terry and Tony Moran and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart in April.

His follow-up holiday album, Faith, became the best-selling seasonal album in the U.S. during 1999, moving two million copies according to Nielsen/SoundScan data. The single "Auld Lang Syne" climbed to No. 7 on the Hot 100 chart and gained widespread recognition around the millennium as one of Billboard’s oldest charting songs.

2000s

In February 2000, Kenny G performed at the White House before state governors and members of President Clinton's Cabinet.

His eighth studio album, Paradise, was released in 2002 and included collaborations with R&B artist Brian McKnight as well as the duet "One More Time" featuring Chanté Moore.

On the album At Last...The Duets Album, Kenny G worked alongside musicians such as David Sanborn, David Benoit, Daryl Hall, Burt Bacharach, and Barbra Streisand. This collection featured covers like Careless Whisper and Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" performed with Richard Marx, earning Gold status in the United States.

In 2006, he released his eleventh studio project, I'm in the Mood for Love...The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time, which included interpretations of classics by The Beatles, the romantic theme from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up", James Blunt's "You're Beautiful", and the traditional Chinese song "The Moon Represents My Heart".

By mid-2006, specifically July 31, Kenny G ranked as the 25th top-selling artist in the U.S. according to the RIAA, having sold 48 million albums domestically.

In October 2009, Kenny G joined the band Weezer during an AOL promotional event for their album Raditude, delivering a saxophone solo on "I'm Your Daddy." Although initially unfamiliar with Weezer's music, this collaboration received favorable feedback from AOL-affiliated outlets such as Spinner.com and Popeater.com, even as some critics reiterated prior negative views of his work.

2010s

His 2010 release, Heart and Soul, showcased R&B influences and featured contributions from artists like Robin Thicke and longtime partner Babyface. The album was met with positive reviews from critics.

In February 2011, Kenny G appeared in an Audi commercial titled "Release the Hounds" during Super Bowl XLV, played the role of Head of Riot Suppression in a luxury prison short film, appeared in Katy Perry’s music video for "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", and performed alongside Foster the People on Saturday Night Live.

He co-hosts a radio program with Sandy Kovach on Orlando’s WLOQ station.

Announced in October 2014 and released in January 2015, his album Brazilian Nights drew inspiration from bossa nova icons such as Cannonball Adderley, Paul Desmond, and Stan Getz. It reappeared on the Billboard 200 chart at position number 86. To promote this work, he embarked on The Brazilian Tour covering North America and Asia.

Kenny G’s visit to the location of the 2014 Hong Kong protests stirred controversy with Chinese authorities after he posted a tweet expressing hopes for peace. He later clarified his message, stressing his respect and concern for China.

In February 2017, comedian Andy Samberg parodied Kenny G in Netflix’s "Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special", where Kenny G also competed against country singer Jake Owen on Drop the Mic.

In October 2019, Kenny G contributed to Kanye West’s gospel album Jesus Is King on the track "Use This Gospel". This song reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Kenny G’s first appearance there since 2000. This achievement placed him among a select group of five artists—including Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2, and "Weird Al" Yankovic]—to have top 40 hits spanning four consecutive decades from the 1980s through the 2010s.

2020s

In October 2020, the Weeknd unveiled a remix of his popular track "In Your Eyes," featuring a guest appearance by Kenny G.

Kenny G contributed to the soundtrack of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2021) by performing renditions of "My Heart Will Go On" and "Gary's Song," the latter originally composed for the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Have You Seen This Snail?." The Nickelodeon show also includes a parody character named Kelpy G, inspired by him.

In 2022, Kenny G collaborated with avant-garde metal group Imperial Triumphant on the track "Merkurius Gilded," which also featured his son Max Gorelick on guitar.

Popularity in China

Kenny G has recorded Chinese-language songs such as "Jasmine Flower" (茉莉花) and "The Moon Represents My Heart" (月亮代表我的心).

Since 1989, his piece "Going Home," from the album Kenny G Live, has become an unofficial anthem signaling closing time throughout China. This composition is commonly played in various commercial venues including food courts, markets, fitness centers, shopping malls, and train stations as a cue to end daily operations. Additionally, television channels often broadcast it before concluding their evening programming. Although many listeners are unaware of its title or performer, the song is widely associated with the conclusion of activities or business hours.

Criticism

Kenny G has encountered significant criticism from established jazz artists and aficionados. Pat Metheny characterized him as "not really an advanced player," pointing out "major rhythmic problems" and a limited harmonic and melodic range primarily based on pentatonic scales and blues motifs. Metheny suggested that Kenny G’s widespread popularity, despite not conforming to traditional saxophone standards, fuels much of the debate surrounding his work. Branford Marsalis defended Kenny G by advising critics to leave him be, noting that his audience differs markedly from that of jazz legends such as Miles Davis or John Coltrane.

The 1999 release of Kenny G’s single "What a Wonderful World," which involved overdubbing Louis Armstrong’s original recording, attracted criticism. Mark Sabbatini described it as an "unconscionable act of auditory graffiti." Ben Ratliff of The New York Times argued that modifying Armstrong’s improvisational masterpiece was inappropriate, especially considering questions about Kenny G’s depth of musical understanding. Alto saxophonist Charles McPherson observed that Kenny G’s listeners likely lack familiarity with jazz greats, making his approach more comprehensible, while pianist Fred Hersch asserted that Kenny G is "not a jazz musician."

Critic Josef Woodard remarked that Kenny G exemplifies what should be avoided in jazz, even as other prominent figures were labeled overrated in the same survey.

In 2021, HBO premiered the documentary Listening to Kenny G, directed by Penny Lane, which explores his commercial achievements alongside critical skepticism. Richard Brody of The New Yorker highlighted Kenny G’s candid insights about music and musicianship presented in the film.

Equipment

Kenny G performs using Selmer Mark VI soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones and has launched his own series known as "Kenny G Saxophones."

Personal life

Kenny G married Janice DeLeon in 1980; they divorced seven years later in 1987. He wed Lyndie Benson in 1992, with whom he has two sons. Their son Max was guitarist for the experimental metal band Imperial Triumphant in 2016. Benson-Gorelick filed for legal separation in January 2012; their divorce was finalized later that year.

In 1996, Kenny G constructed a residence in Hunts Point, Washington, which he sold three years later to Craig McCaw. He currently lives in Malibu, California. A passionate golfer with a +0.6 handicap, he has competed seven times at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, sharing the 2001 pro-am title alongside Phil Mickelson with Tiger Woods and Jerry Chang. He was ranked first and second respectively in Golf Digest's Top 100 musicians by handicap in 2006 and 2008 and is a longtime member of Sherwood Country Club located in Thousand Oaks, California.

Additionally, Kenny G is a certified pilot who frequently flies a De Havilland Beaver seaplane. He was also an early investor and close personal friend of Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz.

Discography

Studio albums

• Kenny G (1982)
• G Force (1983)
• Gravity (1985)
• Duotones (1986)
• Silhouette (1988)
• Breathless (1992)
• Miracles: The Holiday Album (1994)
• The Moment (1996)
• Classics in the Key of G (1999)
• Faith: A Holiday Album (1999)
• Paradise (2002)
• At Last...The Duets Album (2004)
• I'm in the Mood for Love...The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time (2006)
• Rhythm and Romance (2008)
• Heart and Soul (2010)
• Namaste, collaboration with Rahul Sharma (2012)
• Brazilian Nights (2015)
• New Standards (2021)
• Innocence (2023)

Concert tours

As headliner

• Brazilian Tour (2015)
• The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour (2017)

Co-headlining tours

• Moment of Truth World Tour alongside Whitney Houston (1987)
• Secrets Tour with Toni Braxton (1996)
• The Hits Tour featuring Toni Braxton (2016)
• The Breezin' & Breathless Tour together with George Benson (2017)

External links

• [Kenny G] at Allmusic