American alto saxophonist, David Sanborn. Bowie fans will know him best for his sublime work on Young Americans and David Live, he also played flute on the latter. The sad news was posted on his social pages in the last hour...
A brief statement was issued within the past hour on David's social media accounts:
It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications. Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently. Indeed he already had concerts scheduled into 2025. David Sanborn was a seminal figure in contemporary pop and jazz music. It has been said that he “put the saxophone back into Rock ’n Roll.”
Below, a Youtube video of David Bowie's "Young Americans" wherein David Sanborn played the sax at the opening and throughout the song:
Remembering David Sanborn on David Letterman Show:
Mind Blowing Sax Solo, Montreux, 1997
