Grover Washington Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Washington in 1995 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Grover Washington Jr. (1943-12-12)December 12, 1943 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 1999(1999-12-17) (aged 56) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1967–1999 |
| Labels | |
Spouse | Christine Washington |
Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999)[1][2] was an Americanjazz-funk andsoul-jazz saxophonist and Grammy Award winner. Along withWes Montgomery andGeorge Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders and legends of thesmooth jazz genre.[3]He wrote some of his material and later became an arranger and producer.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made some of the genre's most memorable hits, including "Mister Magic", "Reed Seed", "Black Frost", "Winelight", "Inner City Blues", "Let it Flow (For 'Dr. J')", and "The Best is Yet to Come". In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, includingBill Withers on "Just the Two of Us",Patti LaBelle on "The Best Is Yet to Come", andPhyllis Hyman on "A Sacred Kind of Love".
Washington was born inBuffalo, New York, on December 12, 1943.[4] His mother was achurch chorister, and his father was a collector of oldjazzgramophone records and played the saxophone. He grew up listening to the great jazzmen and big band leaders likeBenny Goodman andFletcher Henderson. At the age of 8, Grover Sr. gave Jr. a saxophone. In addition to regular practice, Grover Jr. would sneak into clubs to see famous Buffaloblues musicians. His younger brother, drummer Darryl Washington, would follow in his footsteps.[5][6][7] He also had another younger brother named Michael Washington, who was an accomplishedgospel music organist who mastered theHammond B3 organ. Washington was part of a vocal ensemble, the Teen Kings, which includedLonnie Smith.[7]
Washington left Buffalo and played with aMidwest group called the Four Clefs and then the Mark III Trio from Mansfield, Ohio. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into theU.S. Army, where he met drummerBilly Cobham. A music mainstay in New York City, Cobham introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington freelanced his talents around New York City, eventually landing inPhiladelphia in 1967.[1] In 1970 and 1971, he appeared onLeon Spencer's first two albums onPrestige Records, together withIdris Muhammad andMelvin Sparks.
Washington's breakthrough occurred when alto saxophonistHank Crawford was unable to make a recording date withCreed Taylor'sKudu Records,[8] and Washington was chosen as his replacement. This opportunity led to his debut solo album,Inner City Blues. Known for his versatility, Washington played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, gaining recognition for his contributions to jazz and his ability to blend into the mainstream.
While his first three albums established him as a force in jazz and soul music, it was his fourth album in 1974,Mister Magic, that proved a major commercial success. The album climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's R&B album chart and number 10 on Billboard's Top 40 album chart. The title track reached No. 16 on the R&B singles chart (No. 54, pop). All these albums included guitaristEric Gale as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.[1] His follow-up on Kudu in 1975,Feels So Good also made No. 1 on Billboard's R&B album chart and No. 10 on the pop album chart. Both albums were major parts of the jazz-funk movement of the mid-1970s.[4]
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, culminating in the signature piece for everything he would do from then on.Winelight (1980) was the album that defined everything Washington was then about, having signed for Elektra Records, part of the major Warner Music group. The album was smooth, fused withR&B and easy listening feel. Washington's love of basketball, especially thePhiladelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate the second track, "Let It Flow", toJulius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album was his collaboration with soul artistBill Withers, "Just the Two of Us", a hit on radio during the spring and summer of 1981, peaking at No. 2 on theBillboard Hot 100.[4] The album wentplatinum in 1981,[4] and also won aGrammy Award in 1982 for Best Jazz Fusion Performance ("Winelight"). "Winelight" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.[1]
In the post-Winelight era, Washington is credited for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is known for bringingKenny G to the forefront, as well as artists such asKirk Whalum,Walter Beasley,Steve Cole,Pamela Williams,Najee,Boney James andGeorge Howard. His song "Mister Magic" is noted as being influential ongo-go music starting in the mid-1970s.[9]
On December 17, 1999, five days after his 56th birthday, Washington collapsed while waiting in thegreen room after performing four songs forThe Saturday Early Show, atCBS Studios in New York City.[10][11] He was taken toSt. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 pm.[12] His doctors determined that he had suffered a majorheart attack.[1] He is interred atWest Laurel Hill Cemetery inBala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[13]
A large mural of Washington, part of the PhiladelphiaMural Arts Program, is just south of the intersection of Broad and Diamond streets.[14][15] A Philadelphia middle school in the Olney section of the city is named after Washington. Grover Washington Jr. Middle School caters to fifth- to eighth-grade students interested in the creative and performing arts.[16]
There is a mural dedicated to Grover Washington, Jr. in Buffalo, where he grew up and attended school.[17]
In 1992, Washington was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk Of Fame.[18][19]
On April 24, 2023, Washington was inducted into the newly established Atlantic City Walk Of Fame, presented by The National R&B Music Society Inc.[20][21] Washington's daughter Shana Washington was in attendance to accept the honor. Jazz and R&B artistJean Carn inducted Washington.James Brown,The Delfonics andLittle Anthony & The Imperials were also inducted in the inaugural class.[22][23]
| Instrument | Brand/Model | Mouthpiece | Reed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano Saxophone | H. Couf Superba I, black nickel plated | Runyon Custom No. 8 | Rico Royal No. 5 |
| Alto Saxophone | Selmer Mark VI | New York Meyer U.S.A. 7MM | Rico Royal No. 5 |
| Tenor Saxophone | H. Couf Superba I, gold plated | Berg Larsen Hard Rubber 130/0 | Rico Royal No. 5 |
(Although he was later photographed with Keilwerth SX90 and SX90R black nickel plated soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones on album covers, he rarely played them live or in the studio.)
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 200 [24] | US R&B [24] | US Jazz [24] | AUS [25] | UK [26] | |||
| 1972 | Inner City Blues | 62 | 8 | 4 | — | — | |
| All the King's Horses | 111 | 20 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 1973 | Soul Box | 100 | 26 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1975 | Mister Magic | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Feels So Good | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 1976 | A Secret Place | 31 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1977 | Live at The Bijou | 11 | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1978 | Reed Seed | 35 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1979 | Paradise | 24 | 15 | 2 | — | — | |
| 1980 | Skylarkin' | 24 | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Winelight | 5 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 34 | ||
| 1981 | Come Morning | 28 | — | 1 | — | 98 | |
| Baddest | 96 | 40 | 5 | — | — | ||
| Anthology | 149 | 44 | 11 | — | — | ||
| 1982 | The Best Is Yet to Come | 50 | 8 | 1 | 100 | — | |
| 1984 | Inside Moves | 79 | 21 | 3 | — | — | |
| 1986 | A House Full of Love | 125 | 52 | 25 | — | — | |
| 1987 | Strawberry Moon | 66 | 29 | — | 100 | — | |
| 1988 | Then and Now | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
| 1989 | Time Out of Mind | — | 60 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1992 | Next Exit | 149 | 26 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1994 | All My Tomorrows | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
| 1996 | Soulful Strut | 187 | 45 | 2 | — | — | |
| 1997 | Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection | — | — | 7 | — | — | |
| 2000 | Aria | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Anything marked with a – does not have a rating. | |||||||
WithEddie Henderson
WithLeon Spencer
| With others
|
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [28] | US R&B [28] | UK [26] | |||
| 1971 | "Inner City Blues" | — | 42 | — | |
| 1972 | "Mercy Mercy Me" | — | — | — | |
| "No Tears in the End" | — | 49 | — | ||
| 1973 | "Masterpiece" | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Mister Magic" | 54 | 16 | — | |
| 1976 | "Knucklehead" | — | — | — | |
| 1977 | "Summer Song" | — | 57 | — | |
| 1978 | "Do Dat" | — | 75 | — | |
| 1979 | "Tell Me About It Now" | — | 57 | — | |
| 1980 | "Snake Eyes" | — | 88 | — | |
| "Winelight" | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "Just the Two of Us" | 2 | 3 | 34 |
|
| 1982 | "Be Mine (Tonight)" | 92 | 13 | — | |
| "Jamming" | — | 65 | — | ||
| 1983 | "The Best Is Yet to Come" | — | 14 | — | |
| 1984 | "Inside Moves" | — | 79 | — | |
| 1987 | "Summer Nights" | — | 35 | — | |
| 1989 | "Jamaica" | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | "Sacred Kind of Love" | — | 21 | — | |
| 1992 | "Love Like This" | — | 31 | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
