Sonny Rollins, arguable one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, passed away yesterday. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that so many modern smarty-pants musical devices didn't always have to be angsty or harsh, but could be used joyfully and melodically as well. I include the above clip as it expresses his philosophy of art so well, which I believe will resonate with the average (non-jaded) stacker's philosophy of life. Sonny made it to that age with that philosophy in tact, and so can you!

For those unfamiliar with his music, here are two recordings that I believe will be enjoyed by this crowd. Dig Sonny's sense of humor in this first one! Technically, it's just a medium blues with a few "quick changes" thrown in. But that's not the point. By the end, you'll giggle every time he comes back to those two notes.

I include this next one just because so many folks on this platform live in Texas. It also showcases Sonny's humor, but I think the really interesting thing about it is his alternative approach to the chord-less trio. It's experimental in how NOT experimental it is. He just always goes for straight melody, even in settings where one is allowed and even expected to get weird. I know he did that well too, but I've always just loved experiencing the joyful, melodic Sonny.