David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in hig...
Northwestern University, University of Iowa, Chicago Song, Maputo, Neither One of Us, Chicago, IL, United States, Pontiac, MI, United States, Englewood, NJ, United States
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Sofia Sanborn
Children
Jonathan Sanborn
Parents
Carolyn Sanborn
Nicknames
Dave Sanborn , David Sanborne , Dave Sanborne , david_sanborn , Sanborn, David
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album – Group, Band or Duo, Chicago Song, Maputo, Neither One o...
Music Groups
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Since 1967), The Players Association
Nominations
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album - Solo, Chicago Song, Maputo, Neither One of Us, Chicago, IL, United States, Pontiac, MI, United States, Englewood, NJ, United States
Movies
, Scrooged, Sunday Night, more
TV Shows
Sunday Night
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Quote
1
[on participating in a wide variety of musical venues] I really enjoy jumping around like that. I think it keeps you fresh and prevents you from getting locked into doing things one way. It gives you an understanding that music is a continuum; there's no separation with pop music over here and jazz over there.
2
[on being asked to describe how music has evolved over his musical career] I'm probably the worst person to judge that. I am not aware of the incremental changes. It's just like getting older: you don't see it yourself because you see yourself every day. You are not as aware of the process as someone looking at it from the outside who may only see you occasionally.
3
[on the recipe for becoming a successful musician] I think I just kind of put one foot in front of the other and wasn't discouraged by setbacks. There are an awful lot of musicians out there. It's about hanging in there, working hard, and being ready for a break, when and if it occurs. That's really all you can do. Work hard and hope you get lucky.
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Fact
1
Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tequila Sunrise
1988
musician: saxophone solos
Lethal Weapon
1987
musician
Psycho III
1986
musician: saxophone
Murphy's Romance
1985
musician: saxophone soloist
Saturday Night Live
1979-1980
TV Series musician - 17 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
I Go Back Home: Jimmy Scott
2016
Documentary "Never Let Me Go"
Dancing with the Stars
TV Series 1 episode, 2012 performer - 1 episode, 2008
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
2010
Documentary performer: "So Blue"
Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua
1999
TV Movie documentary performer: "Going Down Slow"
The Mirror Has Two Faces
1996
performer: "Try a Little Tenderness"
Forget Paris
1995
performer: "Star Sprangled Banner"
Glengarry Glen Ross
1992
performer: "Daydream"
Lethal Weapon 2
1989
performer: "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"
Scrooged
1988
performer: "We Three Kings of Orient Are"
Frantic
1988
performer: "Chicago Song"
Psycho III
1986
performer: "The Scream Of Love" / writer: "The Scream Of Love"
Murphy's Romance
1985
performer: "LOVE FOR THE LAST TIME THEME FROM MURPHY'S ROMANCE", "RUNNING LONELY", "POETRY"
The King of Comedy
1982
performer: "The Finer Things"
WKRP in Cincinnati
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1982 writer - 1 episode, 1982
Saturday Night Live
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1980 writer - 1 episode, 1980
Rock Concert
1974
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
One-Trick Pony
1980
Saxophone Soloist
Saturday Night Live
1980
TV Series
Forget Paris
1995
David Sanborn
Late Night with David Letterman
1990
TV Series
Scrooged
1988
Street Musicians
Magnum, P.I.
1986
TV Series
Guest Saxophonist
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lethal Weapon 4
1998
Lethal Weapon 3
1992
Lethal Weapon 2
1989
Finnegan Begin Again
1985
TV Movie
Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight
1975
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
I Go Back Home: Jimmy Scott
2016
Documentary
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1993-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Musical Guest / Himself - Musical Support / ...
Marcus
2015
Video documentary
Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2013
TV Series
Himself
Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase
2006
TV Movie
Himself
Chris Botti: To Love Again
2005
Video short
Himself
Legends: Live at Montreux
2005
Video
Himself
Later... With Jools Holland
2005
TV Series
Himself
Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua
1999
TV Movie documentary
Himself (Saxophone)
After New Year's Eve with David Sanborn
1999
TV Movie
Himself - Host
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
1998
TV Special documentary
Himself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1996
TV Special documentary
Himself
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True
1995
TV Movie documentary
Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994
Documentary
Himself
Wheel of Fortune
1994
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity Contestant
Late Night with David Letterman
1983-1993
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
An American Reunion: The People's Inaugural Celebration
1993
TV Movie
Himself
Schmidteinander
1992
TV Series
Himself - Perfomer
CBS This Morning
1992
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
TV Series
Himself
Michael Kamen: Concert for Saxophone
1991
Video documentary
Himself
Sunday Night
1988-1990
TV Series
Himself - Host / Himself
Benny Carter: Symphony in Riffs
1989
Documentary
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman: 7th Anniversary Special
1989
TV Movie
Himself
Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebratation
1988
TV Special documentary
Himself
The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards
1988
TV Special
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman: 6th Anniversary Special
1988
TV Movie
Himself
All Star Gala at Ford's Theatre
1987
TV Movie
Himself
The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards
1987
TV Special
Himself
The Tube
1987
TV Series
Himself - Performer
The 28th Annual Grammy Awards
1986
TV Special
Himself
Saturday Night Live
1976-1980
TV Series
Himself - Musician / Himself - Musical Guest / Himself
Rock Concert
1974
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1993
BMI Film Music Award
BMI Film & TV Awards
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
1990
BMI Film Music Award
BMI Film & TV Awards
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
1985
ACE
CableACE Awards
Musical Score
Finnegan Begin Again (1985)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Grammy
Grammy Awards
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Known for movies
Lethal Weapon (1987) as Music Department
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) as Composer
Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua (1999) as Himself (Saxophone)
$3 Million
