Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Michael Lington (born June 11, 1969) is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and recording artist.
Lington plays a distinctive contemporary saxophone leaning strongly towards the pop side of jazz. He reaches a younger demographic than traditional jazz listeners and is emerging as a contemporary face of jazz.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Lington relocated to Los Angeles at age 21. He is the grandson of jazz pioneer and Danish composer Otto Lington.
Lington has achieved significant U.S. and international success, releasing seven albums and 12 U.S. radio hits. He has endorsement deals with Vandoren and Yamaha.
It was announced in March 2010 that Lington would perform with pop star Michael Bolton as a special guest on his upcoming world tour. Lington performed his #1 radio hit "You and I" during the show and also was featured on several of Bolton's hits, including "Soul Provider" and "Georgia On My Mind"
Lington's most recent album Pure was released february 14, 2012 by Trippin N' Rhythm distributed by Red/Sony to strong reviews. His previous CD "Heat" reached #4 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Sales Chart. It entered the Billboard Heat Seeker chart at #39 and was named Jazztrax Album of the Year in 2008. Lington's duet with Aaron Neville, "That's When You Save Me", tied as Jazztrax Best Vocal Song of the Year.
You & I, the first single from Heat, went to #2 on the national R&R chart and #1 in Los Angeles and other large markets. It was among ITunes most popular smooth jazz songs for 2008. He was nominated for International Instrumentalist of the Year 2009.
He headlined the Playboy Jazz Festival community event in Los Angeles June 1, 2008 and won over the crowd with his high energy show and serenade of audience members.
Lington performed the national anthem and "God Bless America" at the Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium on August 22, 2009 to a standing ovation. He was invited back on October 7, 2009 to perform the national anthem and God Bless America for the Dodgers opening game of the playoffs.
Lington performed at the Royal Wedding of Denmark's future King Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary Donaldson at Fredensborg Castle and numerous other times for the Danish royal family.
International Musician Magazine featured Lington on the cover of the November 2008 issue. IMM is the official publication of the American Federation of Musicians and circulated to registered musicians within the U.S. and internationally. The accompanying article spoke of his pride in becoming an American citizen and extensive charitable work.
Lington performed Baker Street from his Heat album on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon on Labor Day 2008, assisting to raise a record $65 million for the MDA. After the performance, Lewis praised Lington's rendition of Baker Street, featuring Grammy nominated vocalist and American Idol alumni Ace Young, saying: "Hey Michael! Beautiful, Michael! Beautiful music, great talent ... we're lucky we got them tonight."
Lington is founder of Michael Lington Cigars, popular with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and is a columnist for Wine and Jazz magazine. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy, and is working toward a helicopter license. Lington and his Australian-born wife Shivaune Christina married in 2007 and live in Los Angeles.
