Dave Koz

Born to a dermatologist father and pharmacist mother, Koz learned to play the saxophone from a young age, later playing in William Howard Taft High School’s jazz band. Despite subsequently graduating from UCLA with a degree in mass communications, the musician’s heart and soul were in music and Koz opted to pursue becoming a professional saxophone player. With very little time spared Koz was invited to join Bobby Caldwell’s touring band in the 1980s, after which the saxophonist would find himself touring with the likes of Jeff Lobber and Richard Marx. Following years of constant touring in which time Koz honed his live performance and improvisational skills, the musician played in the house band of the network TV show “The Pat Sajak Show”.

Following the show’s demise Koz opted to pursue a solo career and issued his debut, self-titled album in 1990. Released on Capitol Records, where Koz would remain for a string of albums, the record earned positive reviews and charted at No. 129 on the Billboard 200. The saxophonist’s second release on Capitol was the popular full-length “Lucky Man”, which peaked at No. 2 on the contemporary Jazz Chart aided by the No. 20 single adult contemporary single “You Make Me Smile”. Featuring Koz’s brother Jeff Koz on a number of the album’s tracks, the record went on to sell over half a million copies and introduced the musician to a much wider audience.

The full-length “Off the Beaten Path” followed in 1996 as did Koz’s debut live album “Live in Trinidad”. The following year Koz issued his first holiday album “December Makes Me Feel This Way” featuring a host of well-known christmas numbers and his brother on nylon guitar. In 2001 the saxophonist recorded his second christmas album “A Smooth Jazz Christmas” which peaked at No. 3 on the Contemporary Jazz Chart.

Following the release of his subsequent studio album “”At the Movies” Koz parted ways with EMI and signed with Concord who issued his 10th full-length album “Hello Tomorrow” in 2010. Three years later Koz would enjoy his greatest mainstream chart success with the collaborative album “Dave Koz & Friends - Summer Horns” alongside Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, and Richard Elliott. The record was subsequently nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards and followed by the 2014 Christmas album, “The 25th of December”.