Jazz Great Benny Golson, Composer of ‘Killer Joe,’ Dies at 95

Benny Golson, renowned tenor saxophonist, composer, and NEA Jazz Master, passed away at his Manhattan home on Saturday at the age of 95, following a short illness, his longtime manager Jason Franklin confirmed.

Golson's career spanned seven decades, during which he became one of jazz's most revered figures. A Philadelphia native, Golson was influenced early by his childhood friend John Coltrane and later worked with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and Art Blakey. He also co-founded the influential sextet, the Jazztet, with trumpeter Art Farmer in 1959.

We have lost our great Maestro Benny Golson. A bright flame of an epic era has gone out. Not only a maestro of the tenor saxophone, he was a vessel of knowledge with an extraordinary gift in disseminating this knowledge through story telling. God bless you Benny. pic.twitter.com/AW5HYi47C8

— Charles Lloyd (@CharlesLloydSax) September 23, 2024

As a composer, Golson's works became jazz standards. Songs like "I Remember Clifford," "Whisper Not," "Along Came Betty" and "Killer Joe" remain key pieces in the jazz repertoire, played and recorded by musicians worldwide.

Lee Morgan & Benny Golson play with Art Blakey. Live in Paris, 1958 pic.twitter.com/OOflqZztwM

— M. (@MatyldaStein) February 19, 2024

Outside of performance, Golson contributed to television and film, scoring for series like "MASH*" and "Mission: Impossible," and he even made a cameo in the 2004 film "The Terminal," starring Tom Hanks.

Golson's impact on jazz extended far beyond his music. He appeared in the iconic "A Great Day in Harlem" photo in 1958, alongside 56 other jazz legends, and was one of the last surviving members of that historic moment.

RIP Benny Golson (1929-2024)

🎥 The Terminal (2004, Steven Spielberg)
pic.twitter.com/1MWvmuvlmI

— jeff (@jazyjef) September 22, 2024

Jazz historian Monifa Brown, host of WBGO’s Saturday Evening Jazz, paid tribute to Golson, saying, “The modern jazz lexicon simply would not be what it is without the distinctive compositions of Benny Golson. His ability to be a phenomenal composer and soloist simultaneously was rare, and his influence is felt on every corner of the globe.”

Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride also expressed his sorrow, writing on Facebook, “He represented an era of class and sophistication. I’m forever thankful to have played with him.”

Benny Golson is survived by his wife, Bobbie, and their daughter, Brielle.