Artist: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Aliases
Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society
Roland Kirk
Roland Kirk Quartet
The Roland Kirk Quartet
Real name
Ronald Theodore Kirk
Born
August 7, 1935
Died
December 5, 1977
Country
United States
Comments
Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Kirk recorded primarily on tenor saxophone and flute, but he also recorded on such exotic instruments as the manzello, stritch, and instruments of his own creation. Mastering the technique of circular breathing, Kirk was able to sustain notes for extended periods. He became blind at the age of two. Kirk adopted the name "Rahsaan" after it came to him in a dream in 1969. After a stroke left him paralyzed on one side of his body in 1975, he continued performing, relying on the skills he had developed over the course of his career playing several instruments with a single hand.
See also
Gene Walker
George Adams
Michael Marcus

Performances

Originals

Title up Performer Release date Covered by
1 Volunteered Slavery Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1969 (3 artists)
2 Serenade to a Cuckoo Roland Kirk 1965 Jethro Tull
3 Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith Roland Kirk 1967 Eddie Higgins Trio
4 The Inflated Tear Roland Kirk 1968 (2 artists)
5 Freaks for the Festival Rahsaan Roland Kirk November 1975 Sampled by Beastie Boys
6 Bright Moments Song Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 (7 artists)

Covers

Title up Performer Release date Originally by
1 You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 Dionne Warwick
2 Yesterdays Roland Kirk 1967 Fay Templeton
3 Will You Still Be Mine? Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1990 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
4 What's Going On/Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 Marvin Gaye
- Marvin Gaye
5 We'll Be Together Again Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1990 Frankie Laine and Carl Fischer's Orchestra
6 Walk on By Roland Kirk 1966 Dionne Warwick
7 This Masquerade Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1977 Leon Russell
8 This Love of Mine Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
9 This Is Always Roland Kirk 1963
10 There Will Never Be Another You Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 John Payne & Joan Merrill
11 The Nearness of You Roland Kirk 1957 Chick Bullock & His Orchestra
12 The Creole Love Call Roland Kirk 1968 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - King Oliver's Jazz Band
13 The Christmas Song Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1977 The King Cole Trio
14 Take Me Girl I'm Ready Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 Jr. Walker & the All Stars
15 Sweet Georgia Brown Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
16 Summertime Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1978 Abbie Mitchell
17 Stormy Weather Roland Kirk 1957 Ethel Waters with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
18 Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1990 Deanna Durbin
19 Sentimental Journey Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society 1970 Les Brown and His Orchestra - Vocal Chorus by Doris Day
20 Satin Doll Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society 1970 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
21 Prelude to a Kiss Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
22 Petite fleur Roland Kirk 1964 Sidney Bechet
23 One for My Baby Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1990 Fred Astaire
24 Once in a While The Roland Kirk Quartet 1965 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
25 Never Can Say Goodbye Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 The Jackson 5
26 My Ship Roland Kirk 1965 Gertrude Lawrence
27 My Girl Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 The Temptations
28 My Cherie Amour Roland Kirk 1969 Stevie Wonder
29 Moon Song Roland Kirk 1962 Kate Smith
30 Moon River Roland Kirk Quartet 1988 Henry Mancini His Orchestra and Chorus
31 Mood Indigo Roland Kirk 1964 The Jungle Band
32 Makin' Whoopee Roland Kirk 1961 Eddie Cantor
33 Make it With You Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 Bread
34 Make Me a Pallet on the Floor Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1978
35 Lush Life Rahsaan Roland Kirk 2006 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
36 Loving You Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Minnie Riperton
37 Lover Come Back to Me Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 Evelyn Herbert
38 Lover Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society 1970 Jeanette MacDonald
39 Love Is Here to Stay Roland Kirk 1960 Kenny Baker
40 Jitterbug Waltz Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 Fats Waller and His Rhythm
41 It's All in the Game Roland Kirk 1966 Tommy Edwards - Fritz Kreisler
42 In a Mellow Tone Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1978 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
43 If I Loved You Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 John Raitt & Jan Clayton
44 I'll Be Seeing You Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Tamara
45 I Wished on the Moon Roland Kirk 1967 Bing Crosby
46 I Waited for You Roland Kirk 1968 Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra
47 I Say a Little Prayer Roland Kirk 1969 Dionne Warwick
48 I Loves You, Porgy Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1978 Anne Wiggins Brown & Todd Duncan
49 I Didn't Know About You Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston & His Orchestra
50 I Believe in You Roland Kirk 1962 Robert Morse, Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Reed
51 High Heel Sneakers Rahsaan Roland Kirk November 1975 Tommy Tucker
52 Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Charles Mingus
53 Giant Steps Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 John Coltrane
54 Get Out of Town Roland Kirk 1962 Tamara
55 Everything Happens to Me Roland Kirk Quartet 1988 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
56 Easy Living Roland Kirk 1957 Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
57 Donna Lee Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Charley Parker
58 Don't Get Around Much Anymore Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 The Ink Spots - Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
59 Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - Vocal Chorus by Al Hibbler - Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
60 Django Roland Kirk 1965 The Modern Jazz Quartet
61 Day Dream Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1971 Johnny Hodges and Orchestra
62 Cabin in the Sky Roland Kirk 1964 Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson
63 Bye Bye Blackbird Rahsaan Roland Kirk November 1975 Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra
64 Body and Soul Roland Kirk Quartet 1988 Ambrose and His Orchestra
65 Blues for Alice Roland Kirk 1962 Charlie Parker
66 Berkshire Blues Roland Kirk 1964 The Randy Weston Sextet
67 And I Love Her Roland Kirk 1966 The Beatles
68 Alfie Roland Kirk 1967 Cilla Black
69 Ain't No Sunshine Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 Bill Withers
70 Afro Blue Rahsaan Roland Kirk 2006 Cal Tjader
71 A Night in Tunisia Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1977 Sarah Vaughan with Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra
72 A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing Roland Kirk 1968 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Songs written by

Original songs

Title up Written by Covered by
1 Volunteered Slavery Rahsaan Roland Kirk (3 artists)
2 The Inflated Tear Rahsaan Roland Kirk (2 artists)
3 Serenade to a Cuckoo Rahsaan Roland Kirk Jethro Tull
4 Now Please Don't Cry Beautiful Edith Rahsaan Roland Kirk Eddie Higgins Trio
5 Freaks for the Festival Rahsaan Roland Kirk
6 Bright Moments Rahsaan Roland Kirk (7 artists)

Adapted songs

Title up Written by Originals Covered by
1 Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Rahsaan Roland Kirk Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Judy Niemack, Fred Hersch, Joe Lovano, Scott Colley, Billy Hart
2 Berkshire Blues Rahsaan Roland Kirk Berkshire Blues Jon Hendricks & Company

Releases

Audio album

Title up Performer Release date Label
1 We Free Kings Roland Kirk 1962 Mercury
2 Volunteered Slavery Roland Kirk 1969 Atlantic Records
3 Triple Threat Roland Kirk 1957 King
4 Slightly Latin Roland Kirk 1966 Limelight
5 Rip, Rig and Panic The Roland Kirk Quartet 1965 Limelight
6 The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Warner Bros.
7 Reeds & Deeds Roland Kirk 1963 Mercury
8 Rahsaan Rahsaan Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society 1970 Atlantic Records
9 Rahsaan - The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1990 Mercury
10 Other Folks' Music Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1976 Atlantic Records
11 Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith Roland Kirk 1967 Verve
12 Natural Black Inventions - Root Strata Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1971 Atlantic Records
13 Live in Copenhagen Roland Kirk Quartet 1988 Magnetic
14 Left & Right Roland Kirk 1968 Atlantic Records
15 Kirk's Work Roland Kirk with Jack McDuff 1961 Prestige
16 Kirkatron Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1977 Warner Bros.
17 Kirk in Copenhagen Roland Kirk 1964 Mercury
18 Introducing Roland Kirk and Featuring Ira Sullivan Roland Kirk, featuring Ira Sullivan 1960 Argo
19 The Inflated Tear Roland Kirk 1968 Atlantic Records
20 I Talk With the Spirits Roland Kirk 1965 Limelight
21 Here Comes the Whistleman Roland Kirk 1967 Atlantic Records
22 Gifts & Messages Roland Kirk 1964 Mercury
23 Domino Roland Kirk 1962 Mercury
24 The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color Rahsaan Roland Kirk November 1975 Atlantic Records
25 Brotherman in the Fatherland Rahsaan Roland Kirk 2006 Hyena
26 Bright Moments Rahsaan Roland Kirk February 1974 Atlantic Records
27 Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1978 Warner Bros.
28 Blacknuss Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1972 Atlantic Records
29 A Meeting of the Times Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler 1972 Atlantic Records

Audio single

Title up Performer Release date Label
1 Berkshire Blues Roland Kirk 1964 Mercury

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