Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr. | |
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Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999)
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made some of the genre's most memorable hits, including "Mister Magic", "Reed Seed", "Black Frost", "Winelight", "Inner City Blues", "Let it Flow (For 'Dr. J')", and "The Best is Yet to Come". In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, including
Early life
Washington was born in
Career
Early career
Washington left Buffalo and played with a
Washington's big break came when alto sax man Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Creed Taylor's Kudu Records,[5] and Washington took his place, even though he was a backup. This led to his first solo album, Inner City Blues. He was talented and displayed heart and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. Refreshing for his time, he made headway into the jazz mainstream.
Rise to fame
While his first three albums established him as a force in jazz and soul music, it was his fourth album in 1974, Mister Magic, that proved a major commercial success. The album climbed to number 1 on Billboard's R&B album chart and number 10 on Billboard's Top 40 album chart. The title track reached No. 16 on the R&B singles chart (#54, pop). All these albums included guitarist Eric Gale as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.[1] His follow-up on Kudu in 1975, Feels So Good also made No. 1 on Billboard's R&B album chart and No. 10 on the pop album chart. Both albums were major parts of the jazz-funk movement of the mid-1970s.[4]
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, culminating in the signature piece for everything he would do from then on.
In the post-Winelight era, Washington is credited for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is known for bringing Kenny G to the forefront, as well as artists such as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, Boney James and George Howard. His song "Mister Magic" is noted as being influential on go-go music starting in the mid-1970s.[6]
Equipment
Instrument | Brand/Model | Mouthpiece | Reed |
---|---|---|---|
Soprano Saxophone | H. Couf Superba I, black nickel plated | Runyon Custom #8 | Rico Royal #5 |
Alto Saxophone | Selmer Mark VI | New York Meyer U.S.A. 7MM | Rico Royal #5 |
Tenor Saxophone | H. Couf Superba I, gold plated | Berg Larsen Hard Rubber 130/0 | Rico Royal #5 |
(Although he was later photographed with Keilwerth SX90 and SX90R black nickel plated soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones on album covers, he rarely played them live or in the studio.)
Death
On December 17, 1999, five days after his 56th birthday, Washington collapsed while waiting in the
Tributes
A large mural of Washington, part of the Philadelphia
There is a mural dedicated to Grover Washington, Jr. in Buffalo, where he grew up and attended school.[10]
Inductions and other awards
In 1992, Washington was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk Of Fame.[11][12]
On April 24, 2023, Washington was inducted into the newly established, Atlantic City Walk Of Fame presented by, The National R&B Music Society Inc.[13][14] Washington's daughter Shana Washington, was in attendance to accept the honor. Jazz and R&B artist Jean Carn inducted Washington. James Brown, The Delfonics and Little Anthony & The Imperials were also inducted in the inaugural class.[15][16]
Discography
Albums
As leader
Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US 200
[17] |
US R&B [17] |
US Jazz [17] |
AUS [18] |
UK
[19] | |||
1972 | Inner City Blues | 62 | 8 | 4 | — | — | |
All the King's Horses | 111 | 20 | 1 | — | — | ||
1973 | Soul Box | 100 | 26 | 1 | — | — | |
1975 | Mister Magic | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
Feels So Good | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | ||
1976 | A Secret Place | 31 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
1977 | Live at The Bijou | 11 | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
1978 | Reed Seed | 35 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
1979 | Paradise
|
24 | 15 | 2 | — | — | |
1980 | Skylarkin' | 24 | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
Winelight | 5 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 34 | ||
1981 | Come Morning
|
28 | — | 1 | — | 98 | |
Baddest
|
96 | 40 | 5 | — | — | ||
Anthology | 149 | 44 | 11 | — | — | ||
1982 | The Best Is Yet to Come | 50 | 8 | 1 | 100 | — | |
1984 | Inside Moves | 79 | 21 | 3 | — | — | |
1986 | A House Full of Love | 125 | 52 | 25 | — | — | |
1987 | Strawberry Moon | 66 | 29 | — | 100 | — | |
1988 | Then and Now | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
1989 | Time Out of Mind | — | 60 | 1 | — | — | |
1992 | Next Exit
|
149 | 26 | 1 | — | — | |
1994 | All My Tomorrows | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
1996 | Soulful Strut
|
187 | 45 | 2 | — | — | |
1997 | Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection | — | — | 7 | — | — | |
2000 | Aria | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
As sideman
With Eddie Henderson
With
With Leon Spencer
|
With others
|
Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Pop
[21] |
US R&B [21] |
UK
[19] | |||
1971 | " Inner City Blues "
|
— | 42 | — | |
1972 | "Mercy Mercy Me" | — | — | — | |
"No Tears in the End" | — | 49 | — | ||
1973 | "Masterpiece" | — | — | — | |
1975 | "Mister Magic" | 54 | 16 | — | |
1976 | "Knucklehead" | — | — | — | |
1977 | "Summer Song" | — | 57 | — | |
1978 | "Do Dat" | — | 75 | — | |
1979 | "Tell Me About It Now" | — | 57 | — | |
1980 | "Snake Eyes" | — | 88 | — | |
"Winelight" | — | — | — | ||
1981 | "Just the Two of Us" | 2 | 3 | 34 |
|
1982 | "Be Mine (Tonight)" | 92 | 13 | — | |
"Jamming" | — | 65 | — | ||
1983 | "The Best Is Yet to Come" | — | 14 | — | |
1984 | "Inside Moves" | — | 79 | — | |
1987 | "Summer Nights" | — | 35 | — | |
1989 | "Jamaica" | — | — | — | |
1990 | "Sacred Kind of Love" | — | 21 | — | |
1992 | "Love Like This" | — | 31 | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
References
- ^ a b c d e Yanow, Scott. "Grover Washington, Jr. - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Grover Washington Grammy". www.grammy.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ISBN 9781135042691.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85227-745-1.
- ^ "Cti Records: Kudu". Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
- ^ Chang, Jeff (June 2001). "Wind me up, Chuck!". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Archived from the original on August 31, 2001. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
- ^ Lewis, Susan (July 10, 2017). "Looking at the Mural of Grover Washington, Jr. You Can Almost Hear the Music". WRTI. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Points of Pride - The School District of Philadelphia". Webgui.phila.k12.pa.us. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ Lippa, Nick (October 13, 2020). "Grover Washington Jr. mural brings a little Mister Magic to Buffalo's East Side". News.wbfo.org. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. | Walk of Fame". Philadelphia Music Alliance. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Worrell, Carolina (April 25, 2019). "First All-Jazz Induction to Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame Scheduled for Oct. 19". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "GALLERY: Atlantic City Walk of Fame". Press of Atlantic City. April 13, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Fertsch, Cindy (February 27, 2023). "The National Rhythm & Blues Music Society Inc. Presents The Atlantic City Walk of Fame & Induction Ceremony". Shore Local Newsmagazine. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Fertsch, Cindy (April 26, 2023). "The National Rhythm & Blues Music Society Inc. inducts artists into the first 'Walk of Fame'". Shore Local Newsmagazine. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Atlantic City Walk of Fame". Press of Atlantic City. April 24, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Grover Washington, Jr. - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "GROVER WASHINGTON JR - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "British certifications – Grover Washington Jr". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 16, 2022. Type Grover Washington Jr in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ a b "Grover Washington Jr. Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
External links
- Grover Washington Jr. at Legacy Recordings Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- Grover Washington TV Interview from C Music TV
- Jazz Conversations with Eric Jackson: Grover Washington Jr. from WGBH Radio Boston