Kenny G

Person · Male

Kenny G

saxophonist

From
Seattle, United States
Since
1956–present
Rating
★ 4 (1 votes)
Releases
74
  • smooth jazz
  • jazz
  • contemporary jazz
  • quiet storm

About

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. His 1986 album Duotones brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records, making him also the best-selling non-vocal musician in history.

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Gorelick was born in Seattle, Washington and started playing the saxophone at the age of ten, inspired by a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He attended several schools in Seattle, including the University of Washington. During high school, he took private saxophone lessons and played in the school jazz band.
Kenny G's professional career began with Barry White's The Love Unlimited Orchestra at age 17. He played with the Seattle funk band Cold, Bold & Together before joining the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980. His solo career took off after signing with Arista Records in 1982. His debut album, Kenny G, was recorded with members of the Jeff Lorber Fusion and released in 1982. Kenny G's fourth solo album, Duotones (1986), marked the start of his most commercially successful period, featuring the hit single "Songbird". His 1992 album, Breathless, became the best-selling instrumental album ever, and his first holiday album, Miracles: The Holiday Album, sold over 13 million copies. He has worked on soundtracks for films such as The Bodyguard and collaborated with artists, including Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Kenny G released several albums, including Paradise and Brazilian Nights. He made appearances in commercials and music videos and continued to perform worldwide. Kenny G is particularly popular in China, with his song "Going Home" widely used in public places. Despite facing criticism from some jazz musicians, Kenny G remains a highly successful and influential figure in contemporary instrumental music.

From Kenny G on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Member of

Discography

Albums 24
Singles 19
Live 2
Compilations 27
Other 2

Links

Instrumental supporting musician

Named after artist

Parent

Also known as

Kanny G · Kenneth Bruce Gorelick · Kenny G. · Kenny Gorelick

Identifiers

ISNI
0000000116919108
IPI
00084708651

Data from MusicBrainz, saved 12 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.