Sonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist and Improviser, Dies at 95

Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz saxophonist known as the "Saxophone Colossus" and widely regarded as one of the greatest improvisers in jazz history, has died at age 95 at his home in Woodstock, New York. His death was confirmed by his publicist, according to Rolling Stone. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Rollins revolutionized jazz with his innovative improvisational style and left an indelible mark on the genre.

Rolling StoneSonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist and Improvisor, Dies at 95

Born Walter Theodore Rollins in Harlem to immigrant parents from the Virgin Islands, he began studying art and saxophone as a child, graduated high school in 1948, and started his professional career playing tenor sax for singer Babs Gonzales, according to Stereogum. He was influenced by Charlie Parker and mentored by Thelonious Monk in high school, later recording with both, as reported by Deadline.

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DeadlineSonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 95StereogumJazz Legend Sonny Rollins Dies at 95

Rollins recorded more than 60 albums and composed jazz standards including "St. Thomas," "Oleo," "Doxy," and "Airegin," according to Deadline. He was a towering figure in jazz who began as a sideman for bebop pioneers like Coleman Hawkins and became a groundbreaking leader, improviser, and composer, as reported by Variety. He was widely regarded as a peer to John Coltrane, with whom he famously recorded "Tenor Madness" in 1956.

VarietySonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist and 'Saxophone Colossus,' Dies at 95

"His musical range spanned from whirlwind energy to intimate warmth, and he never stopped pushing the genre forward throughout his seven-decade career."

This assessment from the New Yorker captures the breadth of Rollins' artistry, which was celebrated by his peers onstage and through prestigious awards offstage. According to Pitchfork, Rollins had been dealing with respiratory health issues that prevented him from performing publicly since 2012.

PitchforkSonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 95

Rollins' career featured collaborations ranging from jazz greats to the Rolling Stones, and he was celebrated for his burly tone, harmonic ingenuity, and instrumental humor, according to Variety. His powerful, hewn sound on the tenor saxophone matched his tall, muscular physique, as the New Yorker noted, and he never stopped pushing the genre forward throughout his seven-decade career.