Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

WASHINGTON, Grover, Jr

(b 12 Dec. '43, Buffalo NY; d 17 Dec. '99, NYC) Saxophonist, playing all the reeds; began in jazz turning to jazz lite with much commercial success. Worked with organ trios, rock bands; played on Randy Weston LP Blue Moses on CTI; own LPs on Kudu label began to chart '72 with Inner City Blues, suddenly reached top ten albums with Mister Magic and Feels So Good '75; two-disc Live At The Bijou '78 was no. 11; switched to Motown, then Elektra: biggest hit was Winelight, no. 5 LP including smooth vocals by Bill Withers ('Just The Two Of Us' no. 2 hit '81). He played on minor hit Cosby Show TV album '86. He began including more vocalists to vary the routine; 18 chart albums by '92 including The Best Is Yet To Come '82 with Patti LaBelle and Bobby McFerrin and Inside Moves '84 with Jon Lucien on Elektra; Strawberry Moon '87 and Next Exit '92 on Columbia with various vocalists.