Grammy-winning saxophonist David Sanborn maintained footing in commercially popular jazz while also collaborating with a diverse array of legendary artists for more than half a century. As a teenager, he backed blues players like Albert King before joining Paul Butterfield's rock-blues outfit. Sanborn later became an in-demand session player for acts from every genre, including Billy Joel, James Brown, and David Bowie. The musical virtuoso also forged his own solo career, which generated multiple gold albums, as well as TV hosting duties and soundtrack work. Sanborn passed away in May 2024 at age 78.