Kirk Whalum

Kirk Whalum is a tenor saxophonist from Memphis, Tennessee, whose playing carries the gospel roots of his home city. In the 1980s he learned his trade in Houston’s nightclubs, working as a sideman before leading a band of his own. It was in Houston that pianist Bob James spotted him and took him on the road, a break that led to a deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album, Floppy Disk, in 1985.

His solo on Whitney Houston’s 1992 hit “I Will Always Love You” brought him worldwide attention, and Caché (1993) became his first number-one album. For You, released on Warner Bros. in 1998, ranks among his most successful records. He has worked in the studio with Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross and Quincy Jones, made the Grammy-nominated Joined at the Hip (1996) with Bob James, and joined Rick Braun and Norman Brown in the trio BWB. A 12-time Grammy nominee, he won in 2011 for Best Gospel Song with “It’s What I Do”, featuring Lalah Hathaway.