Sonny Rollins | |
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 Rollins in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Walter Theodore Rollins |
| Born | September 7, 1930 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1947–2014 |
| Labels | |
| Website | sonnyrollins |
Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins[1][2] (born September 7, 1930)[3] is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians.[3][4]
In a seven-decade career, Rollins has recorded over sixty albums as a leader. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy", and "Airegin", have become jazz standards. Rollins has been called "the greatest living improviser".[5] Due to health problems, Rollins has not performed publicly since 2012 and announced his retirement in 2014.
- ^ Appelbaum, Larry (February 23, 2013). "Interview with Sonny Rollins Pt. 1". Larryappelbaum.wordpress.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ "Sonny Rollins". Concord Music Group. September 7, 1930. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Nastos, Michael G. (September 7, 1930). "Sonny Rollins | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ Garner, Dwight (March 18, 2024). "This Jazz Legend Is His Own Work in Progress - The private musings of Sonny Rollins reveal an artist devoted to the rigors of self-improvement". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Fordham, John (May 11, 2010). "50 great moments in jazz: The rise of saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins". The Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2017.