music
Kenny G
Kenny G is an American saxophonist who was born in Seattle to a Jewish family. He adopted his stage name when he turned professional at the age of 17 and started playing in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. He has a degree in accounting from the University of Washington.
In 1981 Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist. He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various artists including Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Aretha Franklin. Influenced by the likes of Grover Washington Jr., his own albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.
His cross-over into pop music has lead to negative reviews from many music critics, although he remains highly popular with the American buying public. As of 2003, Kenny G was named the 25th-highest selling artist in America by the RIAA, with 47.5 million albums sold in the USA.
In 1994, Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for "Forever in Love". In 1997, Kenny G earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Kenny G held an E for over forty five minutes, a record he still holds.