Dave Koz

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Dave Koz (born David Kozlowski, March 27, 1963) is an American jazz saxophonist and radio host.

Koz often draws comparisons to another well-known saxophonist, David Sanborn, and has more fire and intensity than Kenny G. Because the two sound almost alike, Koz is sometimes billed as "the second coming of Sanborn."[1]

Dave Koz usually plays soprano and alto saxophones, but sometimes plays tenor and occasionally baritone.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. From an early age, he and his sister took piano lessons. "My mom basically forced my sister and me to play piano from when we were toddlers. I hated piano; I was never any good at it. But I have to thank her now for making me do it, because I write most of my songs on the piano." Around age nine, he rebelled and began taking drum lessons, but notes that he was not very good at drums, "I am the world's worst drummer. I could not keep time to save my life." At age 13, his brother, Jeff, had a band that Dave wanted to be in, but his brother told him over and over that there was no way he could be in it. Dave eventually wore him down, and his brother told him that the only way he could be in the band was if he could play the saxophone, because their band did not have a saxophonist. That was all he needed to hear. Two years later, he was in the band and working gigs with the band and by himself.

He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mass communications in 1986, and only weeks after his graduation, decided to make a go of becoming a professional musician. Within weeks of that decision, he was recruited as a member of Bobby Caldwell's tour. For the rest of the 1980s, Koz served as a session musician in several bands, toured with artists such as Richard Marx, and increased his popularity playing in the house band on Arsenio Hall's late-night talk show.

In 1990, Koz decided to pursue a solo career. The move proved to be successful, and his self-titled album earned high praise from critics and fans alike. His later albums include Lucky Man, The Dance, and Saxophonic. Saxophonic was nominated for both a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award.

In 1994, Koz began hosting a syndicated radio program, "The Dave Koz Radio Show" (formerly "Personal Notes"), featuring the latest music and interviews with who's who in the genre. He is currently co-host of the morning show on 94.7 The Wave, a smooth jazz station in Los Angeles.

In 2002, Koz started a record label, Rendezvous Entertainment, with Frank Cody and Hyman Katz. One of the first albums from that label was Golden Slumbers: A Father's Lullaby, which came at the time his brother Jeff became a father for the first time.

In an April 2004 interview with The Advocate, Koz came out publicily as a gay man. Later the same year, he was named by People magazine as one of their "50 Hottest Bachelors" in their June issue.

In 2006, Koz was selected to host a syndicated afternoon show for Broadcast Architecture's new Smooth Jazz Network. The show, based in Los Angeles, will be broadcast on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country. Koz and Ramsey Lewis will become the only two Smooth Jazz personalities to host two different syndicated shows during the week.

[edit] Trivia

  • Initially picked up the saxophone as a means of gaining entry into his big brother's band.
  • The first record Koz ever bought was Tower of Power's Back to Oakland, memorizing all of the solos and horn lines played by Lenny Pickett.
  • Koz performed "Faces of the Heart", which served as the theme song on the ABC hit soap General Hospital from 1993 to 2004.
  • He is endorsed by Yamaha and plays primarily Yamaha horns.
  • Has a Conn curved soprano saxophone that was made in the 1920's. He generally only plays this horn live.
  • Serves as a Global Ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
  • Known for his enthusiastic stage presence.

[edit] Discography

[edit] External links

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