Sonny Rollins, saxophonist and restless genius of jazz, dead at 95

Key Points:

• Sonny Rollins, a pioneering tenor saxophonist known for his bold tone and constant innovation in jazz, died at age 95 at his home in Woodstock, New York, after years of health challenges.
• Rollins was a major figure in the bebop era, influencing generations of musicians alongside John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, and was noted for his improvisational skill and willingness to experiment with styles including free jazz.
• Despite personal struggles with heroin addiction in his youth, Rollins overcame these challenges, leading to a spiritual awakening that shaped his music and career, including landmark albums like "Saxophone Colossus" and "Way Out West."
• He continued to perform and record into his 80s, winning Grammy Awards for his albums "This is What I Do" and "Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert," before pulmonary fibrosis forced his retirement.
• Rollins was known for periodic sabbaticals and a philosophy of continual growth in his art, leaving behind many unreleased recordings but no instructions for their future, reflecting his belief in moving beyond earthly concerns.