George Young (saxophonist)
American jazz musician (1937–2026)
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George Ernest Young (7 October 1937 – 23 April 2026) was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.
- Musician
- Saxophone
- flute
George Young | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 10, 1937 |
| Died | April 23, 2026 (aged 88) |
| Occupation |
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| Instruments |
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| Formerly of | White Elephant Orchestra, Saturday Night Live Band, Manhattan Jazz Quintet |
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After leading his own band in the late 1950s, Young became a New York City session and studio musician in the 1960s and joined several line-ups including Mike Mainieri's jazz-rock big band White Elephant Orchestra, as well as later joining the Saturday Night Live Band.[1]
In 1982, along with fellow saxophonists Dave Sanborn, Ronnie Cuber, Young was voted one of the Most Valued Players by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' annual awards edition.[2]
Young has led his own quartets featuring Harold Danko, Rick Laird and Butch Miles (early 1980s) and another quartet, featuring Warren Bernhardt, Tony Marino and Tom Whaley (early 1990s).[1] He has performed with Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Luciano Pavarotti, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, James Brown, Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Steve Gadd among others.[3]
Young died in California on 23 April 2026, at the age of 88.[4]
Discography
As leader
- 1962: Presenting the Unbelieveable George Young, Columbia Records[5] CS 8681
- 1989: Old Times - Chiaroscuro Records CR(D) 307[6]
- 1994: Salute (with Louie Bellson and Bobby Shew) - Chiaroscuro Records CR(D) 329[7]
As sideman/session musician
- 1974: James Taylor - Walking Man[8]
- 1976: Walter Murphy Band - A Fifth of Beethoven, Private Stock Records (Soprano, alto, tenor saxophone, and flute solos)[9]
- 1977: Maynard Ferguson - Conquistador, Columbia Records[10]
- 1977: Walter Bishop Jr. - Soul Village, Muse[11]
- 1978: Quincy Jones - Sounds...and Stuff Like That!![12]
- 1979: Dr. John - City Lights,[13]
- 1979: Ian Hunter - You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, Chrysalis[14]
- 1984: Yoko Ono - Every Man Has a Woman, Polydor (Young plays on the track "Now or Never", recorded in 1972)[15]
- 1996: Christy Baron - I Thought About You, Chesky[16]