Grover Washington Jr. was an American jazz-punk/soul-jazz saxophone performer (StrawberryMoon).

Along with George Benson, John Clemer, David Sanbon, Bob James, Chuck Manziony, Dave Grussin, Herb Alpert, and Spirozaira, he considers himself one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. He composed some of the songs he needed and later became an arranger and producer.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Washington made the most memorable genres of songs, including “Mister Magic,” “Reed Seed,” “Black First,” “Winelight,” “Inner City Blues,” and “The Best is Come.” In addition, he performed very often with other artists such as “Just the Two of Us” (still regularly on the radio), Bill Withers, “The Best Is Yet to Come,” Patti LaBelle, and “A Sacred Kind of Love.” He also remembers the 1996 versions of Debbie Brubek’s classics Take Five and Soul Strut.

Washington preferred a black nickel-plated saxophone made by Julius Keilworth.

This includes the SX90R alto and the SX90R tenor. He also played Selmer Mark VI Alto in his early days. His main soprano, black nickel-plated H. Couf Superba II (made by Herbert Couf) and in later years, it was Kiloz SX90.

Washington was born in Buffalo, New York. His mother was a church choir and his father was an old jazz phonograph record collector and also a saxophonist. So music was everywhere in the house. He grew up listening to great jazz men and big band leaders such as Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and others like that. My father gave a saxophone to Junior when he was 8 years old. He practiced and sneaked into the club to meet the famous Buffalo Blues Museum. Washington attended East High School in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from East High School at the age of 16.

Washington left Buffalo to play in a Midwest group called Four Clefs, and then played with Mark III Trio in Mansfield, Ohio.

Soon after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he met drummer Billy Cobham there. Billy Coveham, the music center of New York City, introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington worked freely around New York City, but eventually arrived in Philadelphia in 1967. In 1970 and 1971, he participated in the first two albums of Leon Spencer with Idris Muhammad (drum) and Melvin Sparks.

Washington’s decisive opportunity came at the expense of other artists. Alto saxophone player Hank Crawford was unable to create a recording date with Kudu Records of Creed Taylor, and Washington took his place despite his backup. As a result, his first solo album Inner City Blues was born. He was talented and marked his mind and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. Refreshingly during his time, he moved on to the jazz mainstream.

His first three albums produced jazz and soul music, but his fourth album Mister Magic in 1974 was a commercial success. The album ranked 10th on the Billboard Top 40 Albums chart and the title track ranked 16th on the R&B Single Chart (#54, pop). All of these albums included guitarist Eric Gale as an almost eternal member at an arms factory in Washington. Following Kudu in 1975, Feels So Good ranked 10th on the album chart.

A series of records that were praised during the 1970s peaked at everything he did since then (StrawberryMoon).

Winelight (1980) was an album that defined everything in Washington that signed a contract with Elektra Records, a member of Major Warner Music Group. The album was soft and fused with R&B, giving it a comfortable feeling to listen to. Washington’s love for basketball, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate his second track “Let It Flow” to Julius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album was the collaboration with “Just Two of Us,” which was a huge hit on the radio during spring and summer 1981 and soul artist Bill Withers, ranking second on the Billboard Hot 100. The album became Platinum in 1981 and won the 1982 Grammy Award in the Best R&B Song (“Just Two of Us”) and Best Jazz Fusion Performance (“Winelight”). “Winelight” was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Washington has been recognized for discovering new talent in the late 1980s and early 1990s since Winelight. He is famous for bringing Kenny G, as well as artists such as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, Boney James, and George Howard to the most important position. His song “Mr. Magic” is famous for influencing the beginning of go-go music in the mid-1970s.

Five days after his 56th birthday on December 17, 1999, Washington collapsed while waiting in the green room after playing four songs on The Saturday Early Show at CBS Studio in New York City. He was transferred to Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and died around 7:30 p.m. His doctors decided that he had a severe heart attack.