In Memoriam

Sonny Rollins

September 7, 1930 – May 25, 2026 · aged 95

Jazz · Hard Bop

Theodore Walter 'Sonny' Rollins was the undisputed 'Saxophone Colossus,' one of the most prolific, inventive, and influential jazz musicians in history. Born in Harlem, New York, in 1930, Rollins came of age during the bebop revolution, recording with titans like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk before striking out on his own. With his muscular, authoritative tone and endlessly inventive improvisational skills, he released a string of landmark albums in the 1950s that completely defined hard bop. Never one to rest on his laurels, he famously took a sabbatical at the height of his fame to practice for hours daily on the Williamsburg Bridge, searching for a purer sound. His Calypso-inspired classic 'St. Thomas' remains a jazz standard. Rollins was a master of thematic improvisation, building entire solos from a single melodic fragment. He passed away on May 25, 2026, at the age of 95, leaving behind a monumental legacy.

Milestones

Saxophone Colossus, St. Thomas, Tenor Madness

Also remembered in 2026

In Memoriam: all legends