WICN Artist of The Month – July 2025 David Sanborn
Written by WICN Intern on June 30, 2025
David Sanborn (1945–2024) was an iconic American alto saxophonist whose signature sound blended traditional jazz, instrumental pop, and R&B. Widely credited with bringing the saxophone back to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sanborn carved out a genre-defying space that earned him a place among the most influential musicians of his era.
After contracting polio at age three and spending much of his childhood confined to bed, Sanborn developed a deep love for the sound and energy of the saxophone. At 11, doctors encouraged him to take up a wind instrument to strengthen his chest and improve his breathing, an invitation he gladly embraced. By 14, he was performing with blues greats Albert King and Little Milton.
Sanborn studied music at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Iowa, where he worked closely with the great saxophonist J.R. Monterose. His career quickly took off when he joined the Butterfield Blues Band, first as a section player, then as a featured soloist. Between 1967 and 1971, he appeared on four of their albums and took the stage with them at Woodstock in the early morning hours of August 18, 1969.
By the mid-1970s, Sanborn’s saxophone could be heard on releases by David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, the Eagles, James Brown, Carly Simon, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and dozens more, all while touring with the great Gil Evans.
In 1975, David Sanborn moved to New York City and launched his solo career with the release of his debut album, Taking Off (1975). His stature continued to grow with the success of Hideaway (1979), Voyeur (1981), and Backstreet (1983), establishing him as a major name in contemporary music. Within just a few years, Sanborn had a hit song featured in a film, began collaborating with legendary bassist and producer Marcus Miller, and earned his first Grammy Award for “All I Need Is You.”
Over the course of his career, Sanborn released 25 albums, earned six Grammy Awards, and achieved one Platinum and eight Gold records. He collaborated with a staggering list of artists, including Paul Simon, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, and Christian McBride.
Aside from the music world, David hosted the television show Night Music from 1988-1990, produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. The show featured archival clips of jazz legends like Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck and Billie Holiday, as well as memorable music jams by a remarkable list of musicians, including Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Joe Sample, and Pharoah Sanders. He also hosted ABC’s annual “After New Year’s Eve” specials, fronted the long-running radio show The Jazz Show, and wrote theme music for The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder.
Spanning six decades, David Sanborn’s career was defined by emotion and experimentation. His music proved that a single melodic line could speak louder than lyrics, and his music, as he often said, aimed to go “straight to the heart.” His legacy remains vivid, vibrant, and deeply influential.
