Grover Washington Jr News

Already a member?

Home About SML Legends Blog Legends Forum Kool Links Contact Us

CLICK TO
SELECT A LEGEND

Grover Washington Jr December.12.1943 - December.17.1999

Legend News

YouTube Videos

MP3 Song List

Amazon eStore

Kool Links

Grover Washington, Jr.
was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. He wrote some of his material and later became an arranger and producer. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made some of the genre's most memorable hits, including "Mister Magic," "Reed Seed," "Black Frost," "Winelight," "Inner City Blues" and "The Best is Yet to Come".

Read more at www.wikipedia.org

Grover Washington Jr. News

Legacy Band Celebrates Philadelphia's Jazz Hero, Grover Washington Jr.

Source: Philly Independent Media Center

A tribute concert to reflect and celebrate the legendary and influential saxophonist, Grover Washington Jr., held at the school of his namesake. Former bandmates of the late musician and talented youth of the Grover Washington Jr. Middle School will join on one stage for a jam session showcasing the contemporary smooth jazz medleys of one of Philadelphia’s greatest artists. For his dedication to the Philadelphia community and its children, proceeds of the tribute will benefit the music department at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School.

Visit Site to See More...

Encyclopedia Grover Washington, Jr.

Source: NationMaster.com

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" (which is still a popular hit on the 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."

Visit Site to See More...

Grover Washington, Jr.: Godfather of Smooth Jazz

Source: Jazz Times

Ed Hamilton remembers his encounters with the saxophonist from 1973. How do Johnny Hammond, Curtis Amy, and Grover Washington, Jr. connect with Carole King? Her album Tapestry won her ‘Album of the Year’ & ’Song of the Year’, “It’s Too Late”, containing Amy’s blistering standout soprano solo introduced him to the listening medium; “Breakout”, Hammond’s first KUDU endeavor showcased Grover’s scintillating debut arrival to the jazz scene. And later winning a Grammy for his 1985 album Wine Light and getting an invitation to play with newly elected President Clinton at his inauguration.ball.

Visit Site to See More...

Grover Washington Jr. Discovery: The First Recordings

Source: Jazz Times

On the funky side of things is the Grover Washington Jr. compilation Discovery (Prestige PRCD-11020-2; 69:09). The late tenor-sax great originally recorded these tracks between 1970 and 1971 in his first commercial recording sessions as a sideman for producer Bob Porter and Prestige Records. The seven dates that Grover participated in during that time span were led by organists Charles Earland, Leon Spencer and Johnny "Hammond" Smith and guitarists "Boogaloo" Joe Jones and Melvin Sparks. The 27-year-old saxophonist definitely makes his presence felt on the nine tracks here with his big, rich tone and aggressive horn attack.

Visit Site to See More...

Grover Washington, Jr.

Source: All About Jazz

Saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. was a crossover artist who did have hits in the pop and R&B charts, due to his willingness to play over light funk arrangements and use vocalists. He can be credited with virtually inventing the style of smooth jazz that later became so prevalent, and in that way he has been highly influential. Grover Washington, Jr.'s love of music began a a child growing up in Buffalo, New York; his mother (who sang in church choirs) and father (collector of jazz 78s) bought him a saxophone at age ten. “After I started playing,” Grover says, “I'd sneak into clubs to watch guys like Jack McDuff, Harold Vick and Charles Lloyd.

Visit Site to See More...

Feel free to add your comments and observations about this Soul Music Legend. You must be logged in to add your
comments. Please register to become a member.

Nick Ashford
Florence Ballard
Ron Banks
Estelle Bennett
Obie Benson
James Brown
Chuck Brown
Solomon Burke
Bobby Byrd
Nell Carter
Ray Charles
Clarence Clemons
John Coltrane
Arthur Conley
Sam Cook
Don Cornealus
Tyrone Davis
Sammy Davis, Jr
Bo Diddley
Bernard Edwards
Richard Fields
King Floyd
Marvin Gaye

Al Goodman
Donny Hathaway
Issac Hayes
Billy Henderson
Jimi Hendrix
Whitney Houston
George Howard
Freddie Hubbard
Willie Hutch
Phyllis Hyman
Luther Ingram
Marvin Isley
Michael Jackson
Rick James
Etta James
Valerie Jones
Eddie Kendricks
Gerald Levert
Lisa Lopes

Teena Marie
Bob Marley
Curtis Mayfield
Gene McFadden
Harold Melvin
Heavy D Meyers
Ralph Middlebrooks
Buddy Miles
David Fathead Newman
Teddy Pendergrass
Wilson Pickett
Bill Pinkney
June Pointer
Art Porter, Jr
Dave Prater
Billy Preston
Lou Rawls
Eugene Record
Otis Redding
Mini Ripperton
Max Roach

David Ruffin
Clarence Satchell
Gil Scott-Heron
Tupac Shakur
Nina Simone
Jimmy Smith
Edwin Starr
Levi Stubbs
Donna Summer
Edmund Sylvers
Tony Sylvester
Zola Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Tammi Terrell
Joe Tex
Rufus Thomas
Wayman Tisdale
Ron Townson
Roger Troutman
Ike Turner

Big Joe Turner
Luther Vandross
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Christopher Wallace
Grover Washington Jr
Barry White
John Whitehead
Johnny Wilder Jr.
Paul Williams
Milan Williams
Al Wilson
Ronald Winans
Ali Ollie Woodson
Marva Wright
Philippe Wynne

	Menu	Blog Contributors	Top Stories	Members	Most Popular Artist
	Home About SML Legends Blog Legends Forum Kool Links Contact Us