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, Golson gained a new level of pop culture fame when he appeared as himself in Steven Spielberg’s film The Terminal. More Trending Mick Jagger ‘so sad’ at death of Cleo Sylvestre who sang with The Rolling Stones Tito Jackson's cause of death revealed after Jackson 5 star had 'health emergency' in mall America's Got Talent star Emily Gold, 17, found dead under bridge weeks after show Doctor Who and Peppa Pig actor David Graham dies age 99 The movie, starring Tom Hanks, featured a storyline in which Hanks’ character travels to New York City to obtain Golson’s autograph- the last one needed to complete a collection of signatures from all 58 musicians who appeared in the iconic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem. This photo is one of the most famous images in jazz history.
With Golson’s death, only saxophonist Sonny Rollins remains from the historic photograph as the last living member who was an adult when it was taken. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Golson, daughter Brielle, and several grandchildren. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.
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