Lou Donaldson

Lou Donaldson (1926–2024) was an influential American jazz alto saxophonist known for his soulful and bluesy style, emerging during the bebop and hard bop eras. He began his career in the early 1950s and recorded with notable musicians such as Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk, contributing significantly to the jazz scene. Donaldson received accolades throughout his life, including induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and being named an NEA Jazz Master. He retired in 2018 and passed away at the age of 98 from pneumonia in Daytona Beach, Florida.

GENRES: Jazz, Alto Saxophone