Michael Brecker

About

Fifteen-time Grammy Award winner and Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame inductee who was given an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music.

Before Fame

He played saxophone in school and moved to New York City in 1969, where he got his first gig with the jazz rock band Dreams.

Trivia

He was a member of the Saturday Night Live band in the 1980s.

Family Life

His wife was his manager and established bone marrow drives to combat Brecker's MDS.

Associated With

Brecker and Herbie Hancock were very close friends and Hancock chanted a Buddhist mantra at Brecker's funeral.