Stanley Turrentine Day

April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000

Sugar

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Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine was born today April 5, 1934 in Pittsburgh, a city as famous for its musicians at it was for its steel.

Mother, father and older brother were all accomplished musicians.

R&B was his first love, but after leaving the military in 1959, he joined Max Roach and went from there to perform with many jazz greats.

His older brother Tommy played trumpet and Stanley followed in the foot steps of his father, first motivated to pick up the tenor saxophone by the sound of Illinois Jacquet.

He began his professional career in the 1950s playing in R&B groups including that of Earl Bostic.

In 1959 he joined drummer Max Roach’s band, and married jazz organist Shirley Scott the following year.

After his divorce from Scott in 1970, Stanley Turrentine expanded his repertoire to include jazz fusion with an album release on the CTI label featuring “Sugar”, one of the biggest hits of his career.

From a 1989 episode of the TV show “Night Music” featuring Stanley Turrentine.

Personnel:

Stanley Turrentine, tenor sax
Hiram Bullock, guitar
Philippe Saisse, Keyboard
Tom Barney, bass
J. T. Lewis, drums

 

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