Kenny G Biography

The American saxophonist known as Kenny G was born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick in 1956. Kenny G rose to international fame in the mid 1980’s as one of the world’s most successful instrumental musicians, but long before his success, he grew up in Seattle, Washington, where he began playing sax when he was about ten years old. In high school, he played first chair for the school’s jazz band and was also an active member of the school’s golf team.

Even before graduation and while still underage, Kenny G began performing for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra; he continued to perform professionally throughout his high school and college years. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Washington, Kenny performed with a number of funk bands before launching a solo career in the early 1980’s.

After signing with Arista Records, Kenny G released his debut album in 1982. The self-titled work was well-received by critics and experienced moderate commercial success. But it was Kenny G’s next two albums – G Force and Gravity – which catapulted the artist to stardom, reaching platinum status and launching an international career that has since lasted well into the new millennium. Other notable albums from Kenny G include Duotones (1986), Silhouette (1998), and Breathless (1992), which went on to become the world’s most successful instrumental album ever recorded, earning Kenny G his first Grammy Award. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Kenny G also recorded a number of soundtracks for blockbuster films, including The Bodyguard and Miracle on 34th Street.

Hit singles from Kenny G’s albums include the top forty mainstream hits: “Don’t Make Me Wait for Love” (featuring Lenny Williams); “Songbird,” “Silhouette,” and “Forever In Love.” The song “By the Time This Night is Over,” featuring Peabo Bryson, was also a number one Adult Contemporary hit and reached into the top forty on the mainstream charts. Kenny G has also recorded as a featured artist on numerous singles for other artists, including Jeffry Osborne, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Gill, and Michael Bolton.

Kenny G continues to perform and record. He most recently released his fourteenth studio album, Brazilian Nights, in 2015. Shortly thereafter, Kenny G launched his most recent international tour, bringing him to performance arenas throughout the globe.