Kenny G
Kenneth Gorelick (born June 5, 1956 in Seattle ), better known by his stage name Kenny G , is an American soprano saxophonist .
Career
At the age of 17 he began playing in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra . He graduated from the University of Washington . Since 1981 Kenny G has released several solo albums and has worked with Whitney Houston , Natalie Cole and Aretha Franklin . Kenny G made his breakthrough in 1986 with his fourth album Duotones . In 1994 Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for Forever in Love . Kenny G had particular success with his hits Songbird and Waiting for You .
Kenny G also played with the Rippingtons and was featured on some soundtracks, including Bodyguard , Pretty Woman , the Disney-Pixar animated film Cars , and he played the saxophone on the soundtrack for Decision from Love (with soundtrack producer James Newton Howard ). Since the album Breathless (1992), Kenny G has been working with his friend and producer Walter Afanasieff (including "My Heart Will Go On" / Celine Dion or "Hero" / Mariah Carey). In 2011 Gorelick appeared in the extended version of Katy Perry's music video " Last Friday Night " as Uncle Kenny.
Discography
Studio albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1982 | Kenny G | - | - | - | - |
US-
gold
US
|
First published: 1982
|
1983 | G Force | - | - | - |
UK56 (5 weeks) UK |
US62
platinum
(21 weeks)US |
First published: 1983
|
1985 | Gravity | - | - | - | - |
US97
platinum
(12 weeks)US |
First published: April 29, 1985
|
1986 | Duotones |
DE21 (9 weeks) DE |
AT11 (10 weeks) AT |
- |
UK28 (5 weeks) UK |
US6th × 5
(102 weeks)US |
First published: July 24, 1986
|
1988 | silhouette | - | - | - | - |
US8th × 4
(57 weeks)US |
First published: October 4, 1988
|
1992 | Breathless | - | - | - |
UK4th
gold
(27 weeks)UK |
US2 × 2
(214 weeks)US |
First published: October 20, 1992
|
1994 | Miracles: The Holiday Album | - | - | - | - |
US1 × 8
(17 weeks)US |
First published: October 1994
|
1996 | The moment |
DE55 (4 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK19th
gold
(9 weeks)UK |
US2 × 4
(51 weeks)US |
First published: October 1, 1996
|
1999 | Classics in the Key of G. | - | - | - | - |
US17th
platinum
(33 weeks)US |
First published: June 28, 1999
|
Faith: A Holiday Album | - | - | - | - |
US6th × 3
(9 weeks)US |
First published: November 16, 1999
|
|
2002 | Paradise | - | - | - | - |
US9
gold
(18 weeks)US |
First published: September 10, 2002
|
Wishes: A Holiday Album | - | - | - | - |
US29
gold
(10 weeks)US |
First published: October 22, 2002
|
|
2004 | At Last ... The Duets Album | - | - | - | - |
US40
gold
(18 weeks)US |
First published: November 23, 2004
|
2006 | I'm in the Mood for Love ... The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time | - | - | - | - |
US37 (14 weeks) US |
First published: November 14, 2006
|
2008 | Rhythm & Romance | - | - | - | - |
US14 (11 weeks) US |
First published: February 5, 2008
|
2010 | Heart and Soul | - | - | - | - |
US33 (5 weeks) US |
First published: June 29, 2010
|
2015 | Brazilian Nights | - | - | - | - |
US86 (1 week) US |
First published: January 27, 2015
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Compilations
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1990 | Assembly | - | - | - |
UK32 (7 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: March 1990
|
1994 | The very best of |
DE52 (9 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
First published: May 1994
|
1997 | Greatest hits | - | - | - |
UK38
gold
(5 weeks)UK |
US19th × 3
(37 weeks)US |
First published: November 18, 1997
|
2003 | Ultimate | - | - | - | - |
US42 (10 weeks) US |
First published: June 10, 2003
|
2004 | Songbird: The Ultimate Collection | - | - | - |
UK24
silver
(4 weeks)UK |
- |
First published: August 2nd, 2004
|
2005 | The Greatest Holiday Classics | - | - | - | - |
US39 (15 weeks) US |
First published: October 18, 2005
|
2006 | Holiday Collection | - | - | - | - |
US85 (30 weeks) US |
First published: June 13, 2006
|
2012 | The Classic Christmas Album | - | - | - | - |
US128 (12 weeks) US |
First published: October 2, 2012
|
more publishments
- 1990: The Collection
- 1997: Six of Hearts
- 2001: In America
- 2004: The Romance of
- 2004: Artist Collection
- 2006: The Essential
- 2008: Playlist: The Very Best of
- 2008: Love Ballads
- 2009: Forever in Love: Best of
- 2009: great hits
Live albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1989 | live | - | - | - | - |
US16 × 4
(122 weeks)US |
First published: November 1989
|
More live albums
- 2006: Best
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1984 | Hi How Ya Doin '? G Force |
- | - | - |
UK70 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: April 1984
|
1986 | What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) Duotones |
- | - | - |
UK64 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: August 1986
|
1987 | Songbird Duotones |
DE53 (6 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK22 (7 weeks) UK |
US4 (22 weeks) US |
First published: March 1987
|
Don't Make Me Wait for Love Duotones |
- | - | - | - |
US15 (19 weeks) US |
First release: August 1987
feat. Lenny Williams |
|
1988 | Silhouette silhouette |
- | - | - | - |
US13 (17 weeks) US |
First published: October 1988
|
1989 | We've Saved the Best for Last Silhouette |
- | - | - | - |
US47 (9 weeks) US |
First release: January 1989
feat. Smokey Robinson |
Going Home Live |
- | - | - | - |
US56 (7 weeks) US |
First published: December 1989
|
|
1992 | Forever in Love Breathless |
- | - | - |
UK47 (3 weeks) UK |
US18 (23 weeks) US |
First published: December 1992
|
1993 | By the Time This Night Is Over Breathless |
- | - | - |
UK56 (3 weeks) UK |
US25 (20 weeks) US |
First release: May 1993
feat. Peabo Bryson |
Sentimental Breathless |
- | - | - | - |
US72 (10 weeks) US |
First published: November 1993
|
|
1996 | The Moment The Moment |
- | - | - | - |
US63 (14 weeks) US |
First published: November 1996
|
1997 | Every Time I Close My Eyes The Moment / The Day |
DE87 (3 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK13 (4 weeks) UK |
US6 (26 weeks) US |
First published: January 14, 1997
with Babyface |
Havana The Moment |
- | - | - | - |
US66 (19 weeks) US |
First published: February 1997
|
|
1999 | Auld Lang Syne Faith: A Holiday Album |
- | - | - | - |
US7 (5 weeks) US |
First published: December 1999
|
As a guest musician
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1992 | Missing You Now Time, Love & Tenderness |
- | - | - |
UK28 (4 weeks) UK |
US12 (20 weeks) US |
First published: January 1992
Michael Bolton featuring Kenny G |
1997 | How Could an Angel Break My Heart Secrets |
- | - | - |
UK22 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: November 4th 1997
Toni Braxton featuring Kenny G |
2019 | Use This Gospel Jesus Is King |
- | - | - | - |
US37 (1 week) US |
Video albums
- 1990: Kenny G Live in Concert (US:platinum)
Awards for music sales
|
|
Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.
Country / Region | silver | gold | platinum | diamond | Sales | swell |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources) |
||||||
Australia (ARIA) | - | gold1 | 3 × platinum3 | - | 245,000 | aria.com.au |
Brazil (PMB) | - | 4 × gold4th | 4 × platinum4th | - | 1,350,000 | pro-musicabr.org.br |
Hong Kong (IFPI / HKRIA) | - | 2 × gold2 | platinum1 | - | 40,000 | Individual evidence |
Japan (RIAJ) | - | 3 × gold3 | 2 × platinum2 | - | 700,000 | riaj.or.jp |
Canada (MC) | - | gold1 | 8 × platinum8th | - | 850,000 | musiccanada.com |
New Zealand (RMNZ) | - | 2 × gold2 | 2 × platinum2 | - | 45,000 | nztop40.co.nz |
Norway (IFPI) | - | gold1 | - | - | 25,000 | ifpi.no |
Spain (Promusicae) | - | 3 × gold3 | 3 × platinum3 | - | 450,000 | mediafire.com ES3 |
United States (RIAA) | - | 4 × gold4th | 37 × platinum37 | diamond1 | 48,100,000 | riaa.com |
United Kingdom (BPI) | silver1 | 3 × gold3 | - | - | 360,000 | bpi.co.uk |
All in all | silver1 | 24 × gold24 | 60 × platinum60 | diamond1 |
Web links
- Kenny G in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Personal website of Kenny G
Individual evidence
- ↑ Gold for Duotones in Hong Kong ( Memento from May 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Gold for Silhouette in Hong Kong ( Memento from May 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Platinum for Greatest Hits in Hong Kong ( Memento of March 18, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ 3 × platinum for Breathless in Australia
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Kenny G |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gorelick, Kenneth (full name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American soprano saxophonist |
DATE OF BIRTH | 5th June 1956 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Seattle , Washington , USA |