Sonny Rollins Memorial Cover

Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (September 7, 1930 - May 25, 2026) was
born in New York City. He grew up in Harlem not far from the Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theatre, and the doorstep of his idol, Coleman Hawkins. After early discovery of Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started out on alto saxophone, inspired by Louis Jordan. At the age of 16, Rollins switched to tenor, trying to emulate Hawkins. He also fell under the spell of the musical revolution that surrounded him, bebop. He began to follow Charlie Parker, and soon came under the wing of Thelonious Monk, who became his musical mentor and guru. When he was living in Sugar Hill and before he turned 20, Rollins began working and recording with Babs Gonzales, J.J. Johnson, Bud Powell, and Miles Davis. Sonny Rollins went on to become the jazz legend dubbed the Saxophone Colossus who redefined the language of the genre with his inimitable improvisational skills.