NEA Jazz Master, Grammy-nominated tenor saxophonist and composer Benny Golson died Saturday, September 21, 2024 at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.
Golson's longtime manager and agent, Jason Franklin, said the legendary saxophonist died after a short illness.
Early on, Benny Golson was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's band, and also worked with Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and Johnny Hodges. As a composer, he wrote some of the most memorable songs in jazz, including "I Remember Clifford," "Whisper Not," "Along Came Betty" and "Killer Joe."
Golson also wrote scores for TV shows, including M*A*S*H, Mission: Impossible and Cosby. On screen, he even had a cameo in the feature film The Terminal: When a hapless traveler played by Tom Hanks is finally released from airport purgatory, he heads straight to a club to meet Golson, one of his idols.
The jazz giant also enjoyed a memorable stint as a leader in the jazz world. In 1959, Golson and trumpeter Art Farmer founded a six-person ensemble called the Jazztet. The Jazztet became one of the most popular small groups of its era.
Over a seven-decade career, Golson's warm personality and sound was influenced in part by his Philadelphia childhood friend John Coltrane.
Golson appeared in perhaps the most famous photograph of jazz musicians ever made, "A Great Day in Harlem" taken by Art Kane in 1958, and was featured in an Oscar-nominated 1994 documentary about the photo, directed by Jean Bach. He was one of the last two surviving musicians among the 57 in the picture.
Monifa Brown, Host of WBGO's Saturday Evening Jazz on the passing of Benny Golson:
"The modern Jazz lexicon simply would not be what it is without the distinctive compositions of Benny Golson. Generations of musicians have cut their teeth on his timeless standards like "I Remember Clifford," "Five Spot After Dark," "Killer Joe," "Blues March" "Stablemates" and "Along Came Betty.” He could take the complex and make it beautifully accessible. It is rare to be equally a phenomenal composer/arranger and soloist simultaneously, but Benny Golson managed to reign supreme in both arenas. His work with the Jazz Messengers and the Jazztet with Art Farmer are still influencing saxophonists on every corner of the globe. A proud Philly legend, Golson became an international hero and ambassador for Jazz and had one of the most enviable and longest running careers. Who else could boast sharing the silver screen with Tom Hanks and credits scoring TV shows "M*A*S*H," "The Partridge Family” and “The Cosby Show?” Along with Sonny Rollins, Golson remained only one of two living musicians in Art Kane's famed “Great Day in Harlem" photo." Benny Golson was brilliant, soulful, generous, suave and always sharp and these qualities permeated everything he touched. The example he set along with his indelible influence on the music and culture will eternally burn bright."
Christian McBride, Grammy-winning bassist and host of NPR and WBGO's Jazz Night in America wrote about Benny's passing on his Facebook page.
"Benny Golson. He was everything - a great player, writer, arranger, orchestrator, bandleader, scholar, author, mentor, husband, father, friend. And yes, he was also from Philly. He represented that era of manners, decorum, class and sophistication. When he played, however, he could easily turn into a fire breathing North Philly dragon! I was deeply honored to play in many of his groups from late 1990 to about ‘93. I’m forever thankful that he gave me a shot to play with him and see and experience greatness and wisdom. May you RIP, Benny."
WBGO and the jazz community are mourning the loss of one of the great ones. Benny Golson leaves behind a wonderful legacy of music and spirit. He will be greatly missed.
