Sonny Rollins has died.

[Hardbopjazz]

Sonny's official webpage and Facebook group has reported this. 

To me he was the greatest tenor saxophonist.  RIP. I am going to be upset for some time with this loss.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/officialsonnyrollins

[clifford_thornton]

Holy cow!!

What a life and what a legacy. Thanks, Sonny.

[Hardbopjazz]

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of Sonny Rollins. The Saxophone Colossus died this afternoon at his home in Woodstock, NY at the age of 95. “I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I’m a person who believes this life isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn’t feel like that.” –S.R. (2009)

This photo below I took in 2011 when he played in Newark, NJ.

 

Edited May 26 by Hardbopjazz

[Bright Moments]

I was lucky enough to see him perform in concert. 2 full hours without a break and standing throughout! Thanks for the music Sonny - RIP

[Hardbopjazz]

10 minutes ago, Bright Moments said:

I was lucky enough to see him perform in concert. 2 full hours without a break and standing throughout! Thanks for the music Sonny - RIP

Yeah, the same with me. I saw him a few times and he played for nearly 2 hours without a break. 

[colinmce]

words can only fail. an extraordinary artist. 

Edited May 26 by colinmce

[Hardbopjazz]

New York Times 
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/arts/music/sonny-rollins-dead.html

[GA Russell]

Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins Died Today at 95   May 25, 2026 Jazz saxophonist/composer Sonny Rollins, one of the most honored and influential figures in American music of the 20th century and beyond, died this afternoon at his home in Woodstock, NY. He was 95.   He is survived by his nephew Clifton Anderson and his nieces Vallyn Anderson and Gabrielle DeGroat.   No public memorial is planned at this time.   “I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I’m a person who believes this life isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn’t feel like that.”   —Sonny Rollins, 2009       Photo: John Abbott

Sonny Rollins Website

[Brad]

Incredible life and career. RIP. 

[Milestones]

R.I.P. Sonny.

He was clearly the greatest living jazz artist, though of course he did stop playing in his later years--I think for about a decade.  A great, great player...LEGEND. 

 

[felser]

R.I.P. to one of the true giants of the music.  I got to see him live twice, once at Penn's Landing ca. 1990, and once at the Kimmel Center ca. 2010.

[Chuck Nessa]

Hard to calculate the loss. I was under his spell in highschool.

[mhatta]

A life well spent. RIP. I hope he gets to see Bird, Monk, Trane, and the others again.

[EKE BBB]

Really sad news. R.I.P. to a true giant. 

[Guy Berger]

RIP, a master.  Wish I’d seen him live when I had the chance.

[Pim]

Hé was among the greatest ever. So glad I’ve managed to see him perform at the concertgebouw. Must have been 2005 I think. He will be missed but what a life and legacy! 

[Rabshakeh]

RIP. My first jazz album was Freedom Suite. 

[Clunky]

What a life. I was lucky enough to see him live once in the late 80s. Absolute titan. 

[RiRiIII]

RIP. I saw him once in Athens. A collosus.

[danasgoodstuff]

I saw Sonny 6 or 7 times; wish I'd seen him more. RIP We knew this day was coming, but I'm still deeply saddened.

Edited May 26 by danasgoodstuff

[optatio]

Oh, so sad – R.I.P. 

Saw him in Hamburg in the main hall of the Laeiszhalle on November 28, 2008 - a great event! Line-up: Sonny Rollins (ts), Clifton Anderson (tb), Bobby Broom (g), Bob Cranshaw (b, voc), Kimati Dinizulu (perc), Kobie Watkins (dr)

 

[Big Beat Steve]

Another link to the glorious days of jazz severed. But a long, full life that cannot be appreciated enough.
RIP 

[ejp626]

RIP.  An incredible legacy.  I saw him a couple of times in NYC and at least once, perhaps twice, in Chicago.

[Lester Mobley]

RIP to a singular musician. I'm grateful my mum took me to see him while I was in high school. Sonny, we'll be down here listening to bits of your musical legacy.

[mikeweil]

R.I.P. 

It took me some years before I could connect to his playing. But yeah, he was one of the real great sax players. I will spin his recordings with Monk later today.