This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll pay tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He died on May 25th, 2026, at the age of 95.
Throughout his historic career, Sonny Rollins shared the bandstand and recording studio with key figures connected to Indiana Avenue — including J.J. Johnson, Leroy Vinnegar, Freddie Hubbard, and Larry Ridley. In 1999, he also appeared in Indianapolis at the Walker Theatre as part of Indy Jazz Fest, bringing his iconic sound directly to the Avenue.
Rollins stands as one of the most influential voices in jazz history. Born in Harlem in 1930, he emerged as a major force in modern jazz in the early 1950s, performing alongside artists including Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Naptown’s J.J. Johnson.
Explore Sonny Rollins’ collaborations with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue and trace the connections between his work and the musicians who helped define the sound of Naptown jazz.
