Sonny Rollins Obituary: Revered Jazz Saxophonist And Saxophone Colossus Remembered After Passing At 95 In Woodstock
The music world mourns Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz saxophonist who passed away at age 95 at home in Woodstock, New York.
Born in Harlem, New York, in 1930, Rollins shaped modern jazz across more than six decades with bold tone, inventive improvisation, and deep artistic discipline.
Rollins performed with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane, and created landmark albums including Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness, and Way Out West.
In the late 1950s, Rollins stepped away from performing to practice on New York's Williamsburg Bridge, a period that later inspired The Bridge.
Rollins received Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and Kennedy Center recognition before retiring from live performance in 2014 due to health issues.
As of Wednesday, 27 May 2026, memorial service details remain pending, and the family will announce obituary and funeral service information soon.
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