RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was a black African-American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments from the 1950s to the 1970s. He became blind at the age of two (a result of improper medical treatment), and during his career he was renowned for his onstage vitality, during which virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the ability to play several instruments simultaneously. He passed away in 1977 at the age of 42.