Sonny Rollins, the towering tenor saxophonist whose improvisational brilliance and relentless experimentation made him one of jazz's defining figures, died at his home on Monday at the age of 95, his publicist said.
A legendary figure of the bebop era alongside John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, Rollins recorded more than 60 albums over a career spanning seven decades.
Born Walter Theodore Rollins in Harlem on September 7, 1930, the child prodigy grew up surrounded by music. His father played the clarinet, his sister the piano, and his older brother was a violinist.
Rollins came into prominence with landmark albums including "Saxophone Colossus" and "The Bridge," and was revered for his bold tone and marathon solos.
Ever critical of his work, he once said, "I don't consider myself a musician that has learned as much as I want to learn."
At the height of his fame, he withdrew from performing in 1959 and spent more than two years practicing alone on New York's Williamsburg Bridge, a period that inspired "The Bridge" and cemented his legacy.
Rollins also crossed into popular music, contributing saxophone solos to The Rolling Stones's 1981 album "Tattoo You."
Known for retreats from music, the first came involuntarily when he was imprisoned for 10 months in 1950 after an armed robbery arrest. He later struggled with heroin addiction and another prison stint in 1953.
Finding spirituality led him to renounce his addiction. "I began to have a deeper philosophy of what life was about," he said.
His next sabbatical came in 1966, as he practiced Zen meditation in Japan and spent several years in an ashram in India.
Rollins' 1958 album "Freedom Suite" spoke about the rising struggle of African Americans for equal rights.
Four days after the 9/11 attacks, Rollins performed at a concert that became a live album of remembrance to victims.
He retired from performing in 2014 after a respiratory illness ended his playing career. He won two Grammys and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rollins married Lucille in 1965 and was with her until her death in 2004. They had no children.
"I'm the last guy… but in a way I'm not, because when I'm gone my music is going to be here," Rollins said.
Source: www.dw.com