Sonny Rollins, the saxophonist and composer widely regarded as one of the greatest improvisers in jazz history, has died at the age of 95. His manager confirmed the death, but did not provide a cause.
Rollins's career spanned seven decades, from his early recordings with Bebop pioneers in the 1940s to his last public performance in 2012. His sound, characterised by a robust tone and rhythmic invention, redefined the tenor saxophone's role in jazz.
Born in New York City in 1930, Rollins began playing alto saxophone at age 11 before switching to tenor. He made his first recording at 19 with Babs Gonzales, and quickly became a sought-after sideman for Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. His breakthrough as a leader came in the mid-1950s with albums such as 'Saxophone Colossus' and 'Way Out West'.
Rollins's style evolved from hard bop to modal and free jazz, yet he remained firmly rooted in melody. His compositions, including 'St. Thomas', 'Doxy', and 'Oleo', have become standards. A two-year sabbatical in the late 1950s, during which he practiced on the Williamsburg Bridge, became legendary.
In the 1960s, Rollins experimented with avant-garde and world music, but returned to a more accessible approach in the 1970s. He continued recording and touring into his 80s, receiving a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2004 and a Kennedy Center Honour in 2010.
Tributes have been led by fellow musicians and institutions. The New York Times described him as 'the last of the great stylists of the saxophone'. The National Endowment for the Arts, which awarded him the Jazz Master fellowship in 1983, called him 'an architect of modern jazz'.
Rollins leaves a recorded legacy of over 60 albums as a leader, and an influence that extends beyond jazz to rock, pop and classical music. His death marks the end of an era in American music.
