Jazz Titan Sonny Rollins Passes at 95, Leaving an Unclassifiable Sound
Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, whose bold, boundary-pushing tenor saxophone helped shape postwar improvisation and defy easy classification, died at 95 at his Woodstock, New York home. A fearless explorer who bridged bebop with calypso, avant-garde flavors, and even rock-backed textures, Rollins produced landmark albums such as Saxophone Colossus and Tenor Madness, endured sustained hiatuses to refine his craft, and remained an influential figure in jazz through decades of recording and performances, earning numerous honors including a lifetime Grammy and Kennedy Center Honor.