American saxophonist and composer Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins has traversed
every jazz movement since bebop. Born in New York's Harlem district on September
7, 1930, he studied piano before taking up the saxophone, first alto, then tenor
in 1946, when he made his debut in rhythm'n'blues bands. After a first session
for singer Babs Gonzales, he made a name for himself accompanying Art Blakey,
Bud Powell, Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro and J. J. Johnson. However, already
addicted to drugs, the lack of money to buy them led him to delinquency and,
after a ten-month stay in prison fo...