David Sanborn, a Grammy-winning saxophonist who collaborated with some of music’s greatest musicians, died Sunday, his representative told ABC News. He was 78.
“It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn,” said a Facebook post on his official page. He died “after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications.”
“Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently,” the article said. “Indeed he already had concerts scheduled into 2025.”David Sanborn shaped modern pop and jazz. He ‘placed the saxophone back into Rock ‘n Roll,'” the post says.
Alto saxophonist Sanborn was famous in jazz, pop, rock, and R&B. His 1975 first album, “Taking Off,” reached the top 20 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. He won six Grammys and RIAA Gold and Platinum albums.
Sanborn played on David Bowie’s 1975 album “Young Americans”; with James Taylor on four albums, including “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”; and with Eric Clapton and Sting on the 1992 hit single “It’s Probably Me,” from the soundtrack to “Lethal Weapon 3.”
Sanborn also recorded with Roger Daltrey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, the Eagles, and others.
