Performance · Other credits

David Sanborn

Tampa, United States · 1945-07-30 – 2024-05-12

David Sanborn is credited on 3,426 releases across 548 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1967–2026 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.

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Photo of David Sanborn

3,426

Pressings credited

548

Albums

7

Decades active

1,644

In collections

Biography

David William Sanborn (July 30, 1945 – May 12, 2024) was an American alto saxophonist. He worked in many musical genres; his solo recordings typically blended jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11 and released his first solo album, Taking Off, in 1975. He was active as a session musician and played on numerous albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Sting, the Eagles, Rickie Lee Jones, James Brown, George Benson, Carly Simon, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, Ween, and The Rolling Stones. Sanborn released more than 20 albums and won six Grammy awards. In 2012, Sanborn was described by critic Scott Yanow as "the most influential saxophonist on pop, R&B and crossover players of the past 20 years." He became identified with radio-friendly smooth jazz, although he disliked the term and said he was not a jazz musician.

Bio from Wikipedia

Credited work

3,426 releases · 548 albums · active 1967–2026

  • Performance · 4,775
  • Other credits · 355
  • Production · 17

Studios: Electric Lady Studios · A&R Studios · Record Plant, N.Y.C. · Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Discography

Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Frequent collaborators

Around the web

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