Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins (born Sep 7, 1930 in New York City) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-bebop era, Rollins' long, prolific career began at the age of 11, and he was playing with piano legend Thelonious Monk before reaching the age of 20. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo" and "Airegin", have become jazz standards.
As of 2009, Rollins is still touring and recording, having outlived most of his contemporaries such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Art Blakey, all performers with whom he recorded.
Last Friday did Sonny Rollins perform at Stockholm Jazz Festival.
Sonny was one of the first Jazz blower I heard beside Miles Davis, if I remember correctly it was my brother who introduced him for me and I really did like his was with the Saxophone, Sonny has a style that almost grabs you into the music, its lovely. But as I said yesterday i missed this party and I hope to be able to see him perform soon again.
Rollins was presented with a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2004, but sadly that year also saw the death of his wife Lucille.
In 2007 he received the prestigious Polar Music Prize in Stockholm, Sweden.
He received the awarded "Doctor of Music", honoris causa, for his contributions to jazz music.
This performance from the Antibes Jazz Festival, 2005
More info @ Sonny Rollins Official Website
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