Andrew Woolfolk
Birth nameAndrew Paul Woolfolk II
Born(1950-10-11)October 11, 1950
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 24, 2022(2022-04-24) (aged 71)
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Saxophonist
Instrument(s)
  • Saxophone
  • flute
  • percussion
Years active1973–2022

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][3]

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.[4] In 2017, Woolfolk was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.[2]

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.[3][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.[3][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.[3]

References

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