Rollins, Sonny (Theodore Walter
Rollins), 1930–, African-American tenor saxophonist and composer, b.
New York City. A master of jazz improvisation, Rollins is known for his rich
tone, emotional depth, and inventive use of melody, harmony, and rhythm.
From 1949-54, he was a sideman on recordings by such bop luminaries as Miles
Davis, Thelonius
Monk, and Charlie
Parker and also
composed such now-classic tunes as “Doxy,”
“Oleo,” and “Airegin.” Rollins has since led
numerous jazz groups and made some 100 recordings; among the most acclaimed
are Saxophone Colossus (1956), Freedom
Suite (1958), and the Alfie film score (1966).
He also has toured extensively, often fusing bop with elements of rock,
soul, and other musical styles in ensemble performances, and impressing
audiences with his complex improvised solos. Rollins has been awarded many
honors, including numerous honorary degress, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award (2004), a National Medal of the Arts (2010) and a Kennedy Center Honor
(2011). He retired from public perfromance in 2012 due to respiratory
problems.
See studies by C. Blancq (1983), E. Nisenson (2000), P. N. Wilson (2001), and R. Palmer (rev. ed. 2004).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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