Kirk Whalum in New Orleans

Kirk Whalum is an American saxophonist from Memphis, Tennessee, born in 1958. He draws on gospel and Memphis soul roots across smooth jazz, R&B and pop. He played the saxophone solo on Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and toured with her for more than seven years. His "Gospel According to Jazz" series began in 1998, and he won a Grammy for Best Gospel Song in 2011.