Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk | |
|---|---|
Kirk performing in 1972 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ronald Theodore Kirk |
| Born | August 7, 1935 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 1977 (aged 42) Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, hard bop, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor saxophone, clarinet, stritch, manzello, nose flute, flute, cor anglais, keyboards, percussion |
| Years active | 1955–1977 |
| Labels | King, Chess, Prestige, Mercury, Limelight, Verve, Atlantic, Warner Bros. |
| Formerly of | Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones |
Rahsaan Roland Kirk (born Ronald Theodore Kirk; August 7, 1935 – December 5, 1977), known earlier in his career simply as Roland Kirk, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his onstage vitality, during which virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the ability to play several instruments simultaneously.