Kenny G American jazz saxophonist Date of Birth: 05.06.1959 Country: USA

Biography of Kenny G

Kenny G is an American jazz musician and saxophonist. He was born to Ukrainian parents and began playing the saxophone in school, performing in local groups. By the age of 17, he was already a member of Barry White's orchestra. In the mid-1970s, he joined the local funk group Cold, Bold and Together, becoming the only white member.

After finishing school, Kenny enrolled at the University of Washington to study accounting. During his studies, he continued playing music, collaborating with artists such as John Mathias, The Spinners, and others. After successfully completing his education, he spent several years playing in Oregon's Jeff Lorber Fusion Band. It was during this period that the record label Arista Records took notice of him and in the early 1980s, Kenny signed his first solo contract.

His first album, simply titled "Kenny G," was released in 1982 but did not achieve significant success, nor did his second and third albums, "G-Force" and "Gravity." However, his fourth album, "Duotones," released in 1986, reached sixth place on the album chart and brought Kenny G widespread recognition. His next album, "Silhouette" (1988), reached eighth place on the same chart, while his 1992 release "Breathless" became the best-selling instrumental album in history, going platinum 15 times. One notable difference on this album was the inclusion of vocalists Peabo Bryson and Aaron Neville.

In 1994, Kenny G set another record with his album "Miracles: The Holiday Album," which sold 8 million copies and became the best-selling Christmas album in history. In addition to his solo albums, Kenny also collaborated on projects with renowned artists such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Natalie Cole. He has received numerous music awards, including Soul Train Awards and multiple Grammy Awards.

Currently, Kenny G is the best-selling instrumental artist of all time, with his recordings selling over 30 million copies worldwide.