Hank Crawford

USA, 1958–2009

American alto saxophonist and arranger (1934–2009), musical director of the Ray Charles band. His elegant, blues-drenched, vocal tone — 'the instrumental side of what Ray was doing' — became the foundation of the pop-jazz saxophone sound, most directly through David Sanborn.

Influenced by

• Charlie Parker
• Louis Jordan
• Ray Charles

Influenced

• David Sanborn