Collection: Grover Washington Jr.

Born on 12 December 1943 in Buffalo, New York, Grover Washington Jr. was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist who, along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, is considered a founder of the smooth jazz genre. His mother sang in church choirs whilst his father played saxophone and collected jazz records. Washington received his first saxophone at age eight from his father and was already playing in clubs as a teenager. He left Buffalo to play with the Four Clefs, was drafted into the US Army in 1965 where he played with the 19th Army Band at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and met drummer Billy Cobham who introduced him to New York musicians. After leaving the army, he moved to Philadelphia in 1967.

His breakthrough came in 1971 when alto saxophonist Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Creed Taylor's Kudu Records and Washington was chosen as replacement, leading to his debut album Inner City Blues. His fourth album Mister Magic (1974) proved a major commercial success, reaching number one on Billboard's R&B chart and number 10 on the pop chart. His 1975 follow-up Feels So Good also reached number one R&B. His signature album Winelight (1980) featured his collaboration with Bill Withers on "Just the Two of Us", which peaked at number two in 1981 and won two Grammy Awards. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington created memorable hits including "Mister Magic", "Reed Seed", "Winelight", and "The Best is Yet to Come", collaborating frequently with artists including Patti LaBelle and Phyllis Hyman.

Washington developed personal voices on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, playing with spontaneity and risk-taking whilst influencing commercial giants like Kenny G. On 17 December 1999, he collapsed whilst taping CBS' Saturday Early Show and died of a heart attack aged 56. A Philadelphia middle school and murals in both Philadelphia and Buffalo honour his legacy.