Rahsaan Roland Kirk

American musician (1935-1977)

Born: 7 August 1935
Columbus
Died: 5 December 1977
Bloomington
Country: United States
Record labels: Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records, Chess Records, King
Discography: 42 albums

Biography

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was a jazz musician who played saxophone, clarinet, flute and percussion instrument. Rahsaan Roland Kirk was born on 7 August 1935 in Columbus and died on 5 December 1977 in Bloomington. The music is usually filed under jazz, swing and hard bop. Record labels: Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records, Chess Records and King. The discography here lists 42 albums, from “Triple Threat” (1957) to “Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate” (2025).

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (born Ronald Theodore Kirk; August 7, 1935 – December 5, 1977), known earlier in his career simply as Roland Kirk, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his onstage vitality; in his shows, virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the simultaneous playing of several instruments.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Triple Threat 1957 · King Records Introducing Roland Kirk 1960 · Argo Kirk’s Work 1961 · Prestige We Free Kings 1961 · Mercury Records Domino 1962 · Mercury Records Reeds & Deeds 1963 · Mercury Records Gifts & Messages 1964 · Mercury Records Kirk in Copenhagen 1964 · Live · Mercury Records I Talk With the Spirits 1965 · Limelight Slightly Latin 1966 · Limelight Here Comes the Whistleman 1967 · Live · Atlantic Now Please Don’t You Cry, Beautiful Edith 1967 · Verve The Inflated Tear 1968 · Atlantic Left & Right 1969 · Atlantic Volunteered Slavery 1969 · Live · Atlantic Natural Black Inventions: Root Strata 1971 · Atlantic A Meeting of the Times 1972 · Atlantic Blacknuss 1972 · Atlantic Bright Moments 1973 · Live · Atlantic Prepare Thyself to Deal With a Miracle 1973 · Atlantic The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color 1975 · Atlantic The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man 1975 · Warner Bros. Records Other Folks’ Music 1976 · Atlantic Kirkatron 1977 · Warner Bros. Records Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real 1978 · Warner Bros. Records Live in Paris Vol. 1 1988 · Live · France’s Concert Live in Paris, 1970, Vol. 2 1988 · Live · France’s Concert The Man Who Cried Fire 1990 · Night Records

Les Génies du Jazz (Tome 6, No. 2): Roland Kirk (Black Classical Music) 1991 · Live

Sweet Fire 1991 · Live · Éditions Atlas (I, Eye, Aye) 1996 · Live · Rhino Gifts and Messages 1996 · Live · Ronnie Scott's Jazz House Compliments of the Mysterious Phantom 2003 · Live · HYENA Records Brotherman in the Fatherland 2006 · Live · HYENA Records In Europe 1962-1967 2006 · Live · Impro Jazz

1972-04-02: Village Vanguard, New York City, NY (USA) 2010 · Live

Live in Dortmund 1976 2017 · Live

Live at Ronnie Scott’s, 1963 2022 · Live · Gearbox Records Live in Paris (1970) 2024 · Live · Transversales Disques Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse 2025 · Live · Resonance Records Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate 2025 · Live · Resonance Records

1978-12-31: Memorial Jazz Festival, Keystone Corner, San Francisco, CA · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Rahsaan Roland Kirk is credited as a sideman

1962	Big Band Bossa Nova — Quincy Jones	flute
1962	Oh Yeah — Charles Mingus	woodwind
1963	Plays Hip Hits — Quincy Jones	woodwind
1965	Rip, Rig & Panic — The Roland Kirk Quartet featuring Elvin Jones	castanets, saxophone
1972	Doin' It Right Now — Von Freeman	producer
1974	Mingus at Carnegie Hall — Charles Mingus	saxophone, tenor saxophone
1994	Quincy Plays for Pussycats — Quincy Jones	flute