Jazz Legend Benny Golson Passes Away at 95

Benny Golson, a giant of jazz and one of the most influential tenor saxophonists and composers, has passed away at the age of 95. Golson died on Saturday at his home in Manhattan following a short illness, his longtime agent Jason Franklin confirmed.

Over his remarkable seven-decade career, Golson worked with some of the most notable figures in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, and his childhood friend, John Coltrane. While Golson was a highly talented performer, his lasting legacy is cemented in his compositions, such as “Killer Joe,” “Along Came Betty,” and “I Remember Clifford,” which he wrote after the tragic death of trumpeter Clifford Brown.

Born in Philadelphia, Golson began learning music at the age of nine and transitioned to the saxophone as a teenager. His music journey took off when he played alongside legends like Coltrane in his high school years. After attending Howard University, Golson went on to work with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and later co-founded The Jazztet in 1959.

Though The Jazztet disbanded in 1962, Golson continued to influence the music world by composing for television and film, working on shows like “Mission: Impossible” and “M-A-S-H.” After a hiatus, he returned to performing in the mid-1970s, reuniting with The Jazztet in the early 1980s. His career continued into his 90s as he performed, composed, and shared his love for jazz with the world.

In 2016, Golson published his autobiography, “Whisper Not: The Autobiography of Benny Golson,” and recently contributed interviews to a forthcoming documentary on his life, “Benny Golson: Looking Beyond The Horizon.”