David Sanborn, the influential saxophonist whose Grammy-winning career included collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, has died. He was 78 years old.
Sanborn died Sunday afternoon “after a long battle with prostate cancer with complications,” his team said Monday in an announcement shared with his social media pages. A representative for Sanborn confirmed the details to The Times.
“Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal concert schedule until recently,” his team said in a statement. Thread X (formerly Twitter). “In fact, he already had concerts scheduled for 2025.”
Sanborn may be known for the smooth saxophone melodies on songs like “Maputo,” but his work and legacy extend far beyond the world of jazz.
“Sometimes I hang out with jazz musicians because I play sax and improvise,” Sanborn told the Times in 1996. “But if you know my music, you wouldn't confuse it with jazz. There are certain stylistic and rhythmic elements that prevent me from being in that category.”
Early in his career, Sanborn collaborated with R&B giant Stevie Wonder, as well as the Rolling Stones and David Bowie. After launching his solo career in 1975, Sanborn collaborated with musicians such as Simon, James Taylor, Luther Vandross and Eric Clapton, according to his website.
Throughout his career, Sanborn won six Grammy Awards, including awards for his albums “Straight to the Heart” and “Double Vision,” a collaboration with Bob James. Sanborn released 25 albums, including eight that went gold and one that achieved platinum status.
“David Sanborn was a fundamental figure in contemporary pop and jazz music,” added Monday's statements. “It has been said that he 'brought the saxophone back to Rock 'n Roll'.”
