Andrew Woolfolk Explained

Andrew Woolfolk
Birth Name:Andrew Paul Woolfolk II
Birth Date:11 October 1950
Birth Place:San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation:Saxophonist
Years Active:1973–2022

Andrew Paul Woolfolk II (October 11, 1950[1] – April 24, 2022) was an American saxophonist. Woolfolk was a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and from 1987 to 1993. He also collaborated with artists such as Deniece Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Collins, Twennynine, Philip Bailey, and Level 42.[2]

Biography

Woolfolk attended East High School in Denver, Colorado. In 1972 he joined the band Earth, Wind & Fire as a saxophonist and became a longstanding member. Woolfolk was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire in 2000.[3] In 2017, Woolfolk was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.[4]

Woolfolk died on April 24, 2022, after a long illness.[5]

Collaborations

Aside from his work with EW&F, Woolfolk played the saxophone on Valerie Carter's 1977 album Just a Stone's Throw Away, Deniece Williams' 1977 LP Song Bird, Twennynine's 1979 album Best of Friends, and Stanley Turrentine's 1981 LP Tender Togetherness.[6]

He later performed on Level 42's 1983 album Standing in the Light, Philip Bailey's 1984 Grammy-nominated LP The Wonders of His Love, and Bailey's 1986 Grammy-winning album Triumph.[7] [8] [9]

Woolfolk also played the saxophone on Tracie Spencer's 1988 self titled album and on Phil Collins' 1996 album Dance Into the Light.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andrew Woolfolk, Earth, Wind, and Fire's Classic-Era Saxophonist, Dead at 71 . Blistein . Jon . 27 April 2022 . RollingStone . 2 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Andrew Woolfolk. Allmusic. allmusic.com.
  3. Web site: Earth, Wind and Fire . The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . 25 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Colorado Music Hall of Fame Honors East High School Jazz Greats. Solomon, Jon. November 21, 2017. Westword. westword.com.
  5. News: Anna . Anna. 27 April 2022. Death of saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk, member. HavanNews. 27 April 2022.
  6. Twennynine with Lenny White: Best of Friends. 1979. Elektra Records.
  7. Philip Bailey: The Wonders of His Love. 1984. Myrrh Records.
  8. Web site: Philip Bailey. The Recording Academy. grammy.com.
  9. Philip Bailey: Triumph. 1986. Word Records.