Benny Golson, the legendary tenor saxophonist and composer, passed away on September 21 at his home in Manhattan at 95. His daughter, Brielle Golson, confirmed the news but did not disclose the cause of death. Golson wrote standards such as I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, and Whisper Not defined his seven-decade career.
A towering figure in jazz, Golson combined grace, technical virtuosity, and a deep emotional resonance, all shaped by his early friendship with John Coltrane in their hometown of Philadelphia. Throughout his career, Golson became widely respected for his compositional brilliance and the warmth and soulfulness of his playing. Over his career, Golson worked with some of the most significant figures in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey.
In 1959, he co-founded The Jazztet with flugelhorn player Art Farmer. The ensemble became one of the premier groups of the hard bop era, producing innovative music before disbanding in 1962. While many jazz musicians gain fame primarily as performers, Golson’s greatest legacy may be his compositions, which were embraced by musicians and listeners alike.
Pieces like Killer Joe and Along Came Betty remain staples in the jazz repertoire, frequently performed by generations of artists. However, Golson’s talent was not confined to jazz alone. He branched out into composing for film and television, where he penned scores for hit shows such as MASH*, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.
In 2004, Golso.