Life in the Key of G

by Kenny G, Philip Lerman Narrated by Kenny G

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

This story of triumph and perseverance is an inspiration for all, and for fans of Kenny G, it's the window into how he became the person he is.

Kenny G-the incomparable musician with the straight sax, the flowing hair, and some of the most memorable melodies in history-reveals the man behind the music in this indelible, fascinating, and funny memoir.

Brand new to this edition-narrated in full by the author himself-are thirty original saxophone pieces, composed by Kenny G exclusively for this audiobook.

In honest and heartfelt words, Kenny G shares how skinny Kenneth Gorelick, the kid who got hassled for his lunch money in a Seattle high school, became one of the most celebrated and revered virtuosos in the music industry. He uncovers how he's managed to rise above the fray, tune out the critics, and live a life filled with happiness and humor.

Few people know of Kenny G's musical roots as the sole white guy in one of the coolest funk bands of the seventies, or as the teenage backup musician for everyone from Barry White to Liberace. As an artist he's dedicated to turning the next generation on to jazz heroes like Grover Washington, John Coltrane, and Stan Getz. A man who takes his music seriously but himself not so seriously, Kenny G lets listeners behind the scenes to see how he creates his unique sound and unforgettable songs. Along the way, he offers life lessons in discipline, determination, and dedication.

Life in the Key of G leads listeners on a tour of one of the great musical careers of the twentieth century, from the time he pulled a fast one on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show-a bold gamble that launched his stardom-to famed duets with legends like Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, and more.

As Kenny G likes to say, “Try it. You'll have the best sax you ever had.”

Editorial Reviews

World Hall of Fame golf champion Jack Nicklaus

Kenny G is one of the best musicians of this or any generation. I hope that through this book, people will get to know and celebrate the wonderful person Kenny is and the special individual…I have been blessed to know.”

Booklist

Kenny G’s memoir reveals someone who is dedicated to his family and craft, has a sense of humor about himself, and who comes off as genuinely grateful, happy, and quite possibly the nicest guy in music.”

author of the Morning Show Murders series and coho Al Roker

Life in the Key of G is funny, honest, and insightful, but he doesn’t tell me how I could get that fabulous hair!”

world-renowned drummer and author of Maria’s Zoro

Kenny G has lived with a spirit of excellence, and there is much to learn from this man of substance and vision on how to do the same. If you want a recipe for what it takes to live the American dream, you’ll find it in Life in the Key of G. All that it takes to develop your craft, make your mark, find your voice, and keep your wits about you while in pursuit of it all, is laid out here. It is a genuinely inspiring, entertaining, empowering, and humorous read!”

Kirkus Reviews

2024-06-14
A distinguished musician talks about how a “skinny, white, nerdy guy” named Kenneth Gorelick became one of the bestselling artists of all time.

As Kenny G (b. 1956), a Seattle native, relates, his love affair with the saxophone began in fourth grade when he first saw it played onThe Ed Sullivan Show. After his parents rented one for him, he became “hypnotized by the physicality of it.” A natural musician, the author quickly learned to read music and play the instrument. Only after the high school band rejected him during his freshman year, though, did he begin the daily “intense practice regimen” that transformed him into a first-chair player and dedicated musician. His life changed forever when Jim Gardiner, the school’s Black composer in residence, introduced him to Grover Washington, whose work the author studied with the meticulousness that became one of his defining musical characteristics. “One session doesn’t do it,” he writes. “You have to come back to it over and over and over. Which is another reason that I still practice three hours every day.” Later, at around the time the author took up his trademark soprano saxophone, Gardiner recommended him to R&B superstar Barry White, who needed a replacement sax player “with a soulful feel” for his band. From that point on and for the entirety of the college career that followed, the author played professionally. He joined Jeff Lorber’s jazz fusion band, where he became known as “Kenny G” and met producer Clive Davis, who offered him the chance to record as a solo artist. Warm, thoughtful, and upbeat, this candid memoir about a life dedicated to—and enriched by—music will appeal to Kenny G’s many fans and to music aficionados with an interest in the rise of the smooth-jazz sound.

Feel-good reading from a feel-good musical artist.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191352312
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	09/24/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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