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Kenny G
The best-selling smooth-jazz saxophonist who made instrumental music a global crossover hit — still recording and performing
Active — Kenny G, born Kenneth Gorelick in 1956, is an American smooth-jazz saxophonist and one of the best-selling instrumental artists of all time. He remains active, still recording and touring well into the 2020s.
Kenny G, born Kenneth Gorelick in 1956 in Seattle, Washington, is one of the most commercially successful instrumental musicians in history. A saxophonist first drawn to the instrument in school, he built a career in the 1980s and 1990s on a smooth, accessible sound that turned instrumental jazz into a mainstream radio and retail phenomenon. Albums such as "Duotones," "Silhouette" and "Breathless" sold in huge numbers, and his version of "Songbird" became a signature hit.
His popularity spanned decades, earning multiple Grammy awards and legions of fans around the world, even as critics dismissed his style as too smooth or formulaic. Kenny G's music became a byword for a polished, seductive sound that filled elevators, shopping malls and late-night radio alike.
Unlike many of his peers, Kenny G never really faded away. He has continued to release records and tour, playing to devoted audiences and collaborating across genres, from jazz to Latin pop. His longevity — and his willingness to keep performing — has made him something of a fixture of the music world.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1956, Seattle, Washington
- Real name
- Kenneth Gorelick
- Instrument
- Saxophone (soprano)
- Breakout hit
- Songbird (1986)
- Best seller
- Breathless (1992)
- Awards
- Multiple Grammy Awards
- Genre
- Smooth jazz
Sources
- Kenny G - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
- Kenny G To Perform At Lied Center For Performing Arts In April — Broadway World (2026-09-05)
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