Not dead yet

For the past two days I was under the impression that Sonny Rollins had died.  I blame the TVs at the gym and their lousy subtitling.  And CNN's confusing story presentation.  Or the fact that I was reeeeallly far away from the TV at the gym and couldn't see what was going on very well.  Anyway.  Sonny Rollins is not dead.  I repeat: not dead.

Why, you ask, is this so important to me?  Well, he's a jazz saxophone legend for one thing.  And I am nothing if not loyal to quality jazz saxophonists.  Sonny was born Theodore Walter Rollins in New York City on September 7, 1930.  He grew up in Harlem, started playing on the alto sax, then switched to tenor at age 16.  Fellow tenor man Coleman Hawkins was a hero to the young Rollins, who tried to play like Hawk.  Harlem, at that time, was teeming with jazz talent: Thelonious Monk, Jackie McLean, and Art Taylor and Sonny was soon playing and recording with J.J. Johnson, Bud Powell, and Miles Davis.

What sets him apart from other saxophonists is his creative ability.  He seems to never run out of ideas while soloing, often playing extended choruses without repeating himself once.  His most well-known tunes are Sonnymoon for Two, Doxy, and St. Thomas.

In June 2006 he was inducted into the Academy of Achievement, and in August of 2010, he was awarded the Edward McDowell Medal.  This honor is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fields.  Most recently,  in March of 2011 he was awarded the Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.  This is the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.