Jazz great Sonny Rollins dead at 95
Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophonist and restless genius whose bold, distinctive tone and constant experimentation kept him on the cutting edge of jazz for more than 50 years, died Monday at age 95.
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Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz tenor saxophonist often called the Saxophone Colossus, has died at age 95. Reports indicate he passed away at his home in Woodstock, New York, after years of health issues [sources: CBS News, CBC News, Washington Post, Independent, BBC coverage across May 24–26, 2026]. Each article notes that his spokesperson confirmed the death and that he had been largely homebound in recent years due to health problems.[3][5][6][8][9]
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Rollins’ career spanned more than five decades, with influential contributions to bebop and modern jazz, including landmark improvisational work and compositions that helped define the era. Obituaries highlight his bold tone, relentless creativity, and status as one of the last living greats of the bebop era.[7][8][3]
If you’d like, I can pull together a concise timeline of Rollins’ key recordings, collaborations, and milestones, or summarize how tributes have framed his impact on jazz. I can also provide a short list of representative tracks and albums to explore his work.