Grover Washington Jr. Biography
One of the best-selling saxophonists that jazz has ever produced, Grover Washington Jr. (1943-1999) is best known by the general public for his crossover R&B and pop hits, and for his popular albums. Although his romantic, seductive hits mark him as a founding father of the smooth jazz genre, Washington possessed serious jazz credentials and a long and impressive resume, and even his most commercial work maintained high musical standards. Washington was also a highly versatile player, excelling on soprano, alto, tenor and occasionally baritone saxophone, and a substantial influence on other players.
Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Washington’s first musical influence was his father, a jazz enthusiast who played saxophone. The younger Washington began playing sax at the age of ten, and was performing in local clubs by the time he was 12. He picked up some early experience touring with the Four Clefs, before being drafted into the Army. In 1967, Washington left the service and moved to Philadelphia, where he became a fixture on that city’s jazz scene, working in soul-jazz combos with organists Charles Earland and Johnny Hammond Smith.
Washington received an important break in 1971, when saxophonist Hank Crawford had to miss a recording session and Washington was drafted to replace him. That session became Washington’s first album, Inner City Blues. It became a big seller, and Washington built upon that success with a series of popular albums that established him as an audience favorite. He achieved several R&B/pop crossover successes, his biggest being the 1980′ hit “Just the Two of Us,” featuring Bill Withers on vocals.
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