Sonny Rollins (Theodore Walter Rollins New York City September 7, 1930) was an American jazz tenor and saxophonist. Rollins began his long and prolific career at 11 years old. He was already playing piano with Thelonious Monk when he turned 20. Rollins continues to tour and record today. He has outlived many of his contemporaries, including Miles Davis, Miles Davis and Max Roach. Rollins was born and raised in New York City. His parents were born in the United States Virgin Islands. Rollins was 13 when he received his first saxophone. Rollins began as a pianist and then switched to the alto saxophone in his teens. He finally switched to the tenor in 1946. He was a member of a jazz band that included future jazz stars Kenny Drew and Jackie McLean during his high school years. He recorded his first recording in 1949 with Babs Gonzalez – the same year he recorded with J. J. Johnson u0026 Bud Powell. He recorded with Miles Davis and Charlie Parker from 1949 to 1954. Rollins was sentenced to three years in prison for armed robbery in 1950. Rollins spent 10 months at Rikers Island prison before being released on parole. He was arrested in 1952 for violating his parole terms by using heroin. Rollins was sent to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, which was the only aid available for drug addicts at the time. He was also a volunteer in the experimental Methadone therapy program and was able “kick” — to endure an opiate withdrawal. Rollins initially worried that sobriety might affect his musicianship but he soon found greater success. He was initially attracted to R jumping as a saxophonist.
