David Sanborn has been one of the most influential pop, R&B, and crossover saxophonists of the past 20 years. He was born on 30th July, 1945 in Tampa, Florida. He began studying the saxophone as therapy for polio from which he suffered as a youngster. He went on to study music at Northwestern University (one of the few universities to have a saxophone department at that time) under Fred Hemke, and became interested in Chicago's jazz/blues tradition. He played with many Chicago blues greats and became a skilled alto saxophonist.

After important stints with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Gil Evans, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Rickie Lee Jones and the Brecker Brothers, Sanborn began recording as a leader in the mid-'70s and he racked up a string of successes.

His solo debut was in 1975 with Taking Off. His 1980 album "Hideaway" received a Grammy nomination, but it was "Voyeur", released in 1982, that won him his first Grammy. He won another for his 1986 album Double Vision.

For a couple years in the early '90s, Sanborn was the host of the syndicated television series Night Music which brought rarely seen players to the public eye, most of whom were given the unique opportunity to play together. He also hosted a radio program, "The Jazz Show." These two programmes displayed Sanborn's wide interest and musical curiosity.

Sanborn's sound is unique. His blistering alto saxophone style is widely considered to be one of his greatest contributions to music. His passionate sound with its crying and squealing high notes and his emotional interpretations of melodies uplift any record he is on. Unlike his countless number of imitators, Sanborn is immediately recognizable within two notes. Sanborn's virtuosity has now spanned four decades, taking him from being a band member to a leading session player to a solo star in his own right.

David signed a major new contract with Verve Records in December 2000.