Jazz Legend Benny Golson Dies at 95

Benny Golson, the renowned jazz tenor saxophonist and composer known for classics like "Killer Joe" and "Along Came Betty," passed away at the age of 95 at his Manhattan home after a short illness. Born in Philadelphia, Golson began his musical journey with the piano at age 9 and switched to saxophone at 14, performing alongside legends like John Coltrane during his teenage years. Throughout his prolific seven-decade career, he not only played with jazz icons such as Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey but also co-founded The Jazztet in 1959. Golson was celebrated for his compositions, including the poignant "I Remember Clifford," written in memory of his friend who died young. He transitioned to scoring for television shows such as "M*A*S*H" and "Mission: Impossible," and briefly paused performing in the 1980s, later returning to music in his 90s. Golson's contributions to jazz were recognized when he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 1996, and he also appeared as himself in the film "The Terminal."