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Posted on 11/06/2025 9:37:56 AM PST by real saxophonist
NATIONAL SAXOPHONE DAY
National Saxophone Day commemorates the birth of the woodwind's inventor, Adolphe Sax, on November 6th. The saxophone is one of the main instruments in jazz music.
Born on November 6, 1814, Adolphe Sax invented many musical instruments including the saxophone. Sax constructed saxophones in several sizes in the early 1840s. On June 28, 1846, he received a 15-year patent for the instrument. The patent encompassed 14 different versions of the fundamental design, split into two categories of seven instruments each and ranging from sopranino to contrabass.
After Sax’s patent expired in 1866, several saxophonists and instrument manufacturers implemented their own improvements to the original design and key work.
Over the years, many great saxophone masters have graced the world with their music.
Stan Getz
Sidney Bechet
Mindi Abair
Sonny Rollins
Yolanda Brown
Lester Young
Eric Dolphy
Coleman Hawkins “Hawk”
John Coltrane
Elisa Hall
Charlie Parker “Bird”
Kenny G.
Steve Cole
Jimmy Dorsey
Julian Adderley “Cannonball”
Candy Dulfer
Grover Washington Jr.
Wesley Magoogan
Dick Parry
Herbie Flowers
Claire Daily
Ronnie Ross
HOW TO OBSERVE SAXOPHONE DAY
Listen to some saxophone music. Go to a Jazz concert. Even play the saxophone if you have one. Read about your favorite jazz musician. Teach someone to play the saxophone. Donate to your school's music program. Use #SaxophoneDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL SAXOPHONE DAY HISTORY
November 6th commemorates the birth of Adolphe Sax. However, National Day Calendar® continues researching the founder of this musical day.
Saxophone FAQ
Q. Why are saxophones considered woodwind instruments?
A. A saxophone uses a reed to produce sound making it a woodwind instrument.
Q. What is the smallest saxophone?
A. The smallest instrument in the saxophone family is the sopranissimo saxophone.
Q. What is the largest saxophone?
A. The largest instrument in the saxophone family is the baritone saxophone.(RS note: Nope, it's the contrabass saxophone. In Eb. Very rare. My best friend has a Bb bass saxophone.)
November 6th Celebrated History
1894
The Illinois inventor, William C. Hooker, receives patent No. 528,671 for the spring-loaded mousetrap. Boardgames have never been the same.
1923
U.S. Army colonel Jacob Schick was granted patent No. 1,690,133 for an electric razor. While others had invented electric razors before, Schick was the first to achieve commercial success.
1947
The news program, Meet the Press, debuts on NBC TV. Still airing today, it is the longest-running television program on network television.
1981
Two years after the black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report the discovery of black-footed ferrets in Wyoming. A conservation effort is immediately set in motion.
2005
The film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire premieres in London. In the fourth installment of the books by J.K. Rowling, the students of Hogwarts are challenged to a wizarding competition.
2018
New York elects Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the House of Representatives. At 29 years old, she's the youngest person to ever serve in the House.
November 6th Celebrated Birthdays
Antoine-Joseph Sax - 1814
In the 1840s, Sax received a patent for his invention of the woodwind instrument, the saxophone.
Charles Henry Dow - 1851
Along with Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser, Dow founded Dow Jones & Company in 1882. He would also establish the Wall Street Journal.
John Philip Sousa - 1932
Known as the March King, the U.S. Marine Band leader composed 136 marches and recorded more than 400.
James Naismith - 1861
In 1891, the physical education teacher developed a game for his students using two peach baskets and a soccer ball. Today, basketball is played around the world.
Yoshisuke Aikawa - 1880
In 1933, the business leader founded Nissan, paving the way for the Japanese auto industry.
Ida Barney - 1886
The professor of mathematics and Yale University Observatory astronomer recorded the measurements of 150,000 stars during her career.
Opal Kunz - 1894
As an aviation pioneer, Kunz became the first woman to compete against men. She also organized the Betsy Ross Air Corps, providing humanitarian service during World War II.
Wilma Briggs - 1930
Over her seven-year career in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, the outfield earned a reputation for bringing in the runs. Not only was she fast, but her career batting average was .256 with 301 RBIs.
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Sonny Rollins is THE NICEST person I EVER met.
More stories later, maybe...
For those who haven’t been around as long as I have, I took my screen name from Bill “Bad Tone Out Of Tune When In Doubt Trill I Won A Medal In High School” Clinton.
Thanks for explaining the FR alias. LOL
What about Wayne Shorter and Michael Brecker?
Dick Parry was Sax soloist on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon................
1. I had my tenor in a flight case on my back, and two guys came up to me.
"Is that a gun?"
"No, something much more dangerous. A saxophone." They had a funny look on their faces when I said that.
2. Guy comes up and says Sonny Stitt!Sonny Stitt!Sonny Stitt!Sonny Stitt! Yes, I know who Sonny Stitt is. I had an idiot girlfriend who said "Sonny's WHAT?"
I left him with that befuddled look on his face, because I had to catch my flight back to Denver.
My favorite movie has a lot of sax in it:
“Some Like It Hot”.
I did meet Michael Brecker. He was a bit of a smartass, like me, so we got a long pretty well.
Of course. It’s been something like 26 years.
Well, nobody’s perfect!
Ditto. We saw Michael Breaker at the Blue Note many years ago and that was my clear impression. He just played his notes, and very well too, then abruptly walked off.
Another good one is “Lethal Weapon”. David Sanborn, who just passed away about a year and a half ago. I think I made a post about that.
Pat Patrick, baritone sax, and father of former Mass. governor Deval Patrick. Also Don Byas and Charlie Rouse.
LOL!
“Do you PLUCK the Bass, or STROKE it with a bow?”
“Mostly I just SLAP it.”
I would like to add Scott Hamilton to your list.
Sometimes the instrument can be dangerous. In 1972 I was invited to the Stan Kenton Clinic at Sacramento State and flew in from the central valley instead of driving. I was carrying my Selmer mark IV alto which was not going to go through baggage and let them toss it around. I had to change planes in San Francisco and I told them what was in the case before they ran it through the x-ray. I had opened it when I was in Fresno. As you can imagine they went nuts not knowing what it was and I was quickly surrounded by men and me and the instrument went to another place adjacent to the boarding areas where I emptied my pockets and then opened the case for them to see the horn. I made the plane, they held it when they found our their screw-up, but I thought I was going to be cuffed and arrested for previously trying to tell them what it was and still getting “caught.”
United gave me a free trip to anywhere voucher and were all apologies. Haven’t flown United since and threw the voucher away.
wy69
Oh I really like David Sanborn. I’ll have to check that out.
Funny story from that moment:
A Park Police officer rode up to me on a bike. "What's in the box?"
"Something very dangerous. A saxophone"
He just kinda laughed and rode off.
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