Kirk Whalum Research Paper

I had the pleasure of doing my report on none other than the wonderful Kirk Whalum. As I was doing my research, I was able to learn about his life, work and accomplishments. Kirk Whalum is a musician, and songwriter that was born on July 11, 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee. As a young boy he began playing in his father's church choir. Others may think that that’s where he started to love music, but in actuality, he discovered his love for music from his grandmother, and two uncles, who performed with jazz bands around the country. Continuing to practice music, he participated in the band at the high school he attended, Melrose High School. As a result of his prominence, he received a scholarship to attend music school at Texas Southern University.

The pianist was impressed with Whalum's expressive style, and invited him to play on his album, 12. With a bit more exposure, Whalum soon signed with Columbia Records and released his first solo album, Floppy Disk, in 1985. His career then took off from there. His greatness has given him ample opportunities to work with some of the best artists like Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, Bebe & Cece Winans, Al Green, and Luther Vandross. Whalum has also worked on a number of film scores, including those for The Prince of Tides, Boyz n the Hood, The Bodyguard, and Grand Canyon. His musical excellence has brought him a total of 12 Grammy nominations, three Dove Award nominations, a NAACP Image Award nomination, and won two Stellar Awards-Gospel music’s highest honor. On June 20, 2014, Whalum was the inaugural Jazz Legend honoree of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee. In the midst of being an entertainer, he earned his Masters of Art in Religion, and became an ordained minister. Since it’s in his spirit to serve his community, he frequently performs at nursing homes, schools and

He is often recognized for knowing how to use a saxophone very well. Whalum not only plays one instrument but four; tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute. With the capability to become proficient at various instruments, he mastered plenty of sounds. Kirk played for a number of genres like Smooth Jazz, Pop, R&B, and Gospel. He told John H. Johnson's magazine Ebony Man in a 1994 profile, "The music I like to play and write encompasses the four elements I grew up with: Memphis R&B, gospel, rock, and jazz. The emphasis, though, is on melody, period.” Whether Kirk is interpreting the melodies of others or creating his own masterpieces, he is an artist of infinite variation. His music has both soul, and passion. He has a sound that is uniquely his; it is a sound that leaves an unforgettable imprint on the