Composer
"Rollins, Sonny
American jazz saxophonist and composer (1930–2026)
1930–2026
3 works in the index
- Born
- 1930
- Died
- 2026
- Birthplace
- Harlem
- Place of death
- Woodstock
- Citizenship / historical state
- Algérien
- Period (estimated from birth year)
- Contemporary
Biography
Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (September 7, 1930 – May 25, 2026) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential of jazz musicians.
In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded more than 60 albums as a leader. His 1956 album Saxophone Colossus was selected for preservation by the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2016. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy", and "Airegin", have become jazz standards.
Rollins was often called "the greatest living improviser". Sometimes known as "saxophone colossus", Rollins was awarded a lifetime Grammy Award and was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2011. He was credited as a defining figure of the jazz genre.
Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.
Life and musical career
- Occupations
- composer; bandleader; conductor; jazz saxophonist; saxophonist; jazz musician; musician
- Recorded memberships
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Sonny Rollins Quartet
- Instruments played
- tenor saxophone; soprano saxophone
- Awards
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; Paul Acket Award; Kennedy Center Honors; Guggenheim Fellowship; National Medal of Arts; Austrian Decoration for Science and Art; NEA Jazz Masters; Polar Music Prize
- Official website
- https://sonnyrollins.com
- Birth name
- Walter Theodore Rollins
- Nickname
- Newk
- VIAF ID
- 7368226
- ISNI
- 0000000110367920
- GND ID
- 118749552
- Library of Congress ID
- n82144213
- MusicBrainz ID
- 3b47247e-5b57-49b6-a0ed-bad80243802a
Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.
In this catalogue
- Common listed instruments
- Piano, Tenor Saxophone, Trombone
- Genres represented
- Jazz
- Works with composition dates
- 0 of 3
These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.
Catalogue
Works
Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.
| Work | Year composed | Catalogue / opus | Key in title | Listed instruments | Genre | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Street | — | — | — | Piano, Trombone | Jazz | 1 |
| Sonnymoon For Two | — | — | — | Piano, Tenor Saxophone | Jazz | 1 |
| Playing in the Yard | — | — | — | Piano | Jazz | 1 |
Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 7368226. Portrait: Brianmcmillen at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.