Stan Getz

Stanley Gayetsky (February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia – June 6, 1991 in Malibu, California) was an American jazz musician. He is considered one of the greatest tenor saxophone players of all time. Known as "T

Stanley Gayetsky (February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia – June 6, 1991 in Malibu, California) was an American jazz musician. He is considered one of the greatest tenor saxophone players of all time. Known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, Getz's prime influence was the wispy, mellow tone of his idol, Lester Young. In 1986, however, Getz said: "I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be..."

Born to Ukrainian-Jewish parents and raised in New York City, Getz played a number of instruments before his father bought him his first saxophone at the age of 13. In 1943, he was accepted into Jack Teagarden's band. He also played along with Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton. After playing for Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman, Getz was a soloist with Woody Herman from 1947–49. He scored a hit with Early Autumn. With few exceptions, Getz would be a leader on all of his recording sessions after 1950.