Sonny Fortune


Cornelius "Sonny" Fortune was an American jazz saxophonist. He played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, clarinet, and flute.

Biography

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After moving to New York City in 1967, Fortune recorded and appeared live with drummer Elvin Jones's group. In 1968, he was a member of Mongo Santamaría's band. He performed with singer Leon Thomas, and with pianist McCoy Tyner. In 1974, Fortune replaced Dave Liebman in Miles Davis's ensemble, remaining until spring 1975, when he was succeeded by Sam Morrison. Fortune can be heard on the albums Big Fun, Get Up With It, Agharta, and Pangaea, the last two recorded live in Japan.
Fortune joined Nat Adderley after his brief tenure with Davis, then formed his own group in June 1975, recording two albums for the Horizon Records. During the 1990s, he recorded several albums for Blue Note. He has also performed with Roy Brooks, Buddy Rich, George Benson, Rabih Abou Khalil, Roy Ayers, Oliver Nelson, Gary Bartz, Rashied Ali, and Pharoah Sanders, as well as appearing on the live album The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux.
Fortune died of a stroke at the age of 79 in October 2018.

Discography

As leader

  • 1966: Trip on the Strip with Stan Hunter
  • 1974: Long Before Our Mothers Cried
  • 1975: Awakening
  • 1976: Waves of Dreams
  • 1977: Serengeti Minstrel
  • 1978: Infinity Is
  • 1979: With Sound Reason
  • 1984: Laying It Down
  • 1986: Great Friends
  • 1987: Invitation
  • 1991: It Ain't What It Was
  • 1993: Monk's Mood
  • 1994: Four in One
  • 1995: A Better Understanding
  • 1996: From Now On
  • 2000: In the Spirit of John Coltrane
  • 2003: Continuum
  • 2007: You and the Night and the Music
  • 2009: ''Last Night at Sweet Rhythm''

    As sideman

With Rabih Abou-Khalil
  • Bukra
  • Al-Jadida
With Nat Adderley
With Billy Bang
With Kenny Barron
  • Innocence
With Gary Bartz
  • Alto Memories
With George Benson
With Miles Davis
  • Big Fun
  • Get Up with It
  • Agharta
  • Pangaea
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Elvin Jones
  • Elvin Jones Jazz Machine Live at Pit Inn
  • When I Was at Aso-Mountain
  • In Europe
  • It Don't Mean a Thing
With Charles Mingus
With Alphonse Mouzon
With Pharoah Sanders
  • Izipho Zam
With Melvin Sparks
  • Akilah!
With Leon Spencer
With Charles Sullivan
  • Genesis
With McCoy Tyner
With Mal Waldron
  • Crowd Scene
  • Where Are You?
With Mongo Santamaría