Celebrating the String:
A Sonny Stitt Centennial Tribute Project
Affectionately nicknamed the String by friend and fellow saxophone titan Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt was born on February 2, 1924. 2024 marks his centennial year, and we are celebrating his genius!
Known as a musician’s musician, Sonny Stitt’s imprint on Jazz cannot be overstated. In the words of legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins:
Your father was a great man…we all looked up to him, and not just for the music!
Our campaign is to raise funds to celebrate Sonny Stitt’s centennial in the following important ways:
- The production of 4 centennial tribute concerts in 2024 (2 have been confirmed, but additional funds still need to be secured; 2 are tentative pending funding)
- The publishing of a book at the end of 2024
The confirmed concerts in DC and Springfield, MA are scheduled for July and September 2024. The tentative concerts would happen in Saginaw, MI; Chicago, and New York City - all places Sonny Stitt called home at one time or another.
The premise of the book is to paint a portrait of Sonny Stitt as both an impeccable musician, and a kind and generous human being as told by artists and family who knew him. Interviews for the book are ongoing, among them a beautiful and insightful interview with Jazz legend Sonny Rollins.
Your donations will support concert production costs, including artist fees, travel and lodging, and music/film licensing; and costs related to the research, writing and publishing of the book.
Please consider donating to this worthy endeavor and helping to meet the goal. Thank you for your love of Sonny Stitt, and for supporting this well deserved tribute!
